Kames Capital, the Edinburgh-based asset management arm of Aegon UK, has appointed Stephen Adams as its head of equities.

Mr Adams, who was previously head of UK equities, takes on the role with immediate effect and will be responsible for leading Kames 26-strong team of UK and global equity specialists.

He has 27 years' experience, the last 14 at Kames Capital, where he was appointed Head of UK Equities in April 2004.

Mr Adams will remain lead manager of the flagship Kames UK Equity Fund. This is consistent with Kames' policy of team heads retaining portfolio management responsibilities. The fund is currently ranked first quartile over ten years.

Kames Capital's chief investment officer Stephen Jones said: 'Our UK and international equities managers already operate with a shared philosophy and a unified team under Stephen will strengthen our research capabilities and enhance the sharing of investment ideas.

'We believe these changes will help build upon the successful franchise we have built in the UK equity team for absolute return and ethical investment strategies. Having a single equities team also reflects the increasing importance of global equity mandates to Kames Capital, where we have a growing reputation.'

Fixed income specialist Mr Jones was appointed chief investment officer in September 2013 following the arrival of Martin Davis, the former Cofunds chief, as chief executive, six months after the abrupt departure of Andrew Fleming.

Kames Capital manages £53billion of funds from Edinburgh and London

in fixed income, equities, property, multi-asset, absolute return and ethical investing. The company says its 274 employees include 78 investment professionals, who have an average experience of 19 years, of which an average of nine years has been spent with the firm.