Allan Gray appoints new COO

Allan Gray today announced the appointment of Mahesh Cooper as chief operating officer. Cooper will officially join on 3 May, taking over from Rob Formby, who will step down following a handover period of at least three months. Formby will, over time, pursue other opportunities.

Cooper is no stranger to Allan Gray, having previously been employed at the company between 2003 and 2017, serving as an executive director from 2006 to 2017 and heading up the Institutional Clients team for over a decade. More recently, in 2020, he was reappointed to Allan Gray’s board as a non-executive director. 

Cooper has over 20 years of experience in financial services. He holds a Bachelor of Business Science Degree from UCT, an MBA from the Institute of Management Development and is a qualified actuary. 

“Mahesh is highly respected by peers and industry colleagues and brings a wealth of knowledge of the SA market. He has proven himself to be a valuable executive and board member and we are looking forward to his impact as a leader of our broader group,” says Ian Liddle, chairman of Allan Gray. 

“I want to thank Rob for his valuable contribution to our business. He has steered the firm ably through COVID-19 and all its associated challenges with a characteristic calm and steady approach. His focus on continual improvement and disciplined execution will be felt across the business for many years to come. We wish him well in his future endeavours.”