The former MFS global equity manager, who helped run one of the industry’s top-performing funds last year, jokes that Simon Todd Asset Management would probably be too vain a moniker for his as-yet-unnamed boutique. Todd is in talks with potential backers this summer and is keeping his branding options open.

The MFS Global Equity Portfolio, which he ran alongside senior manager David Mannheim, was one of the top performers throughout last year and remains comfortably above the MSCI World index over three, five and 10 years. Exposure to established, well run companies limited the fund's losses to 30% during 2008, while the MSCI World Index dropped 40.3%.