Barclays Wealth has appointed Aaron Gurwitz as its new chief investment officer and head of research, economics and strategy, and Kevin Gardiner as head of global investment strategy.

Mr Gurwitz will oversee the organizations that deliver macro-economic forecasting, economic research, strategic asset allocation and regionally-customized investment strategies for high net worth clients globally, as well as the groups that handle manager due diligence.

He will report directly to Mitch Cox, head of global research and investments, and head of Barclays Wealth Americas.

Mr Gardiner will manage the global investment strategy group, which is responsible for portfolio strategy as well as tactical asset allocations that take advantage of current market conditions. He will report to Mr Gurwitz.

Mr Gurwitz joined Barclays Wealth in 2008 as part of the acquisition of Lehman Brothers’ private investment management (PIM) business in the Americas. He joined PIM in 2004 as managing director of portfolio advisory. Prior to that, he worked at Goldman Sachs for 16 years in fixed income research, municipal bonds, and private wealth management. Previously, he served as a senior economist at Salomon Brothers, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the Rand Corporation.

Mr Gardiner joined Barclays Wealth in 2009 as head of investment strategy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Previously, he was global head of equity strategy at HSBC in London for six years and has worked at a number of other investment banks in a financial market career spanning more than 20 years.

Mr Cox said: "Aaron’s vast experience over three decades as an economist and a portfolio investment strategist brings enormous value to our research and to our clients. Together with the proven talent of Kevin Gardiner, our head of global investment strategy, and Michael Dicks, our chief economist, Barclays Wealth is able to offer one of the finest research teams to our high net worth clients."