Simon Baker has retired from Jupiter after 12 years at the Group. Simon, 53, has played an important role in building Jupiter's socially responsible investment (SRI) capabilities, both as a fund manager and, more recently, as a part-time consultant to the business. He will now be stepping back completely from fund management in order to focus on running his foods business, Tideford Organic Foods.

The role of Jupiter's SRI & Corporate Governance team, set up more than 18 years ago, has expanded significantly in recent years as the government and investors have placed greater focus on corporate governance and social responsibility. To reflect this growth, Jupiter has made a number of additions to its team.

As of 1st August 2006, Chris Watt, who works on Jupiter's UK equity desk, will extend his responsibilities to include SRI. In doing so, he will work alongside Charlie Thomas, manager of both the Jupiter Ecology Fund and the Jupiter Green Investment Trust and, Peter Hulse, manager of the Jupiter Environmental Income Fund.

Jupiter has, in addition, appointed Jenny Strattan and Laia Izquierdo as research analysts. Jenny, who has joined Jupiter from Citigroup, will focus on SRI research, analysing the environmental and social performance of companies. Laia, who joined from Landwell - Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Barcelona, will focus on implementing Jupiter's corporate governance voting and engagement policy.

Emma Howard Boyd, head of socially responsible investment at Jupiter Asset Management, said: "Simon has made a great contribution to Jupiter's green team and in helping us build the department ahead of his retirement over the past three years. We wish him well as he spends more time at Tideford.

'With increased sales of our green unit trusts and growing interest in green funds, I am delighted to be adding new resource to the SRI team, enabling us to develop in what is already a significant growth area. Against a backdrop of global water shortages, changing weather patterns and the prospect of further oil price rises, demand for green investment should continue to show strong growth."

Simon Baker said: "I have very much enjoyed working at Jupiter during the past 12 years but feel the time is now right to leave fund management and focus on developing Tideford. Jupiter's green funds have been producing good performance and this is resulting in strong growth for this part of the Group. I am delighted to leave the business in such good hands."

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