ARCO expands board following partnership with Burnham Group

ARCO Investment Management (ARCO), previously Optimal Funds Management, has partnered with the Burnham Group to support its growing absolute return investment business. As part of the partnership, ARCO has announced that Burnham Group's CEO, Chris Cunningham, will join the ARCO board, effective July 2017.

Cunningham has been the CEO of Burnham Group for last two years. Previously he served as CEO and CFO of the Bennelong Group, as a director of Bennelong Funds Management and as an executive director of Bennelong Wealth Partners.

ARCO has also announced that Burnham Capital's chair, Bruce Loveday, has been appointed chair of the expanded ARCO board.

Commenting on both appointments, ARCO's co-founders and co-portfolio managers, George Colman and Peter Whiting, said: "We look forward to working with Chris and Bruce, who bring many years of valuable experience in investment management to our business. Above all, our shared commitment is to maximise the resources of this partnership to drive better outcomes for our investors."

Cunningham added: "We understand the tangible benefits of an investment approach that recognises that sound fundamental analysis and a focus on capital preservation are the key elements to generating superior returns across any market cycle. We identified some time ago that the philosophy and practice of ARCO is wholly aligned with our views, so we are delighted to be partnering with George, Peter and their team to expand ARCO's business and delivery for its clients."

ARCO will continue to be controlled by Colman and Whiting and, according to the firm, the investment process and management team will continue unchanged.