Jeff Saunders is leaving Standard Life Investment after 17 years managing UK equities at the Scottish investment house, to join revived rival Martin Currie.

Saunders, who has won two Micropal awards for the performance of his UK equity fund, will report to ex-Ivory & Sime UK equity man Tom Maxwell. He joins the newly formed pan-European team, working with Maxwell on UK portfolios and helping with the development of Martin Currie's Absolute Return funds.