Ahead of the launch in Q1 2013 of Charles Stanley's new direct-to client investment service, Charles Stanley Direct, the division today announces the significant appointment of Douglas McNeill as Investment Director.

Douglas will be transferring to Charles Stanley Direct from Charles Stanley Securities, the company's institutional division where he has worked for the past three years as a highly rated Transport Analyst. Previous to joining Charles Stanley Securities, Douglas held positions at ABN Amro and Barclays de Zoete Wedd.

Douglas's new position will see him in charge of all equity research for Charles Stanley Direct and he will be working closely with recent hire Ben Yearsley, Head of Investment Research. Day to day, Douglas will be summarising the equity markets and providing trading ideas for a growing number of self-directed clients, and using his skills as a communicator to represent the Group across the print and broadcast media.

In a broader aspect to his role, Douglas will also be responsible for media commentary work on equities for Charles Stanley Group in conjunction with the Group's existing market commentators.

Speaking about the appointment, Rob Hudson, Head of Charles Stanley Direct, commented: "I am very pleased to be welcoming Douglas to the business and his transfer from our highly-regarded Securities team is a ringing endorsement of the opportunities that Charles Stanley Direct will present the Group going forward. He will be absolutely key to our ongoing multi-media content creation on the equity side and we are all looking forward to having the resource of such a well-respected analyst for Charles Stanley Direct. Douglas will be a superb bridge between our top-rated Private Client Research and the Direct market and I hope that Charles Stanley Direct clients will appreciate his insight, commentary and analysis. Douglas is also a talented and much sought-after broadcaster and I look forward to deploying his skill as a communicator on a much wider canvas".

Mike Lilwall, Group PLC Director of Charles Stanley, welcomed Douglas to the Charles Stanley Direct Team saying: "It is very encouraging to be able to transfer internal talent to the Charles Stanley Direct proposition and I feel that Douglas has made a very considered, long-term decision to join the project just ahead of full launch. Charles Stanley Direct will be delivering something very client-focussed, transparent and unique in the direct-to-client market and for all involved it is a huge opportunity."

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