A surge in popularity has seen assets in diversified growth funds more than quadruple to £117 billion since 2010, but despite boasting more than £300 billion in assets, Aberdeen Asset Management has been very much on the periphery.

While Standard Life Investments, Newton Investment Management and BlackRock are among the dominant players in diversified growth, Aberdeen's own fund stood at just £111 million in February - the month before the arrival of Mike Brooks. A co-founder and manager of Baillie Gifford's almost £6 billion diversified growth fund, Brooks switched to chair Aberdeen's diversified growth investment team and co-manage its fund.