Charles Mesquita has confirmed that he has joined Newton Investment Management as a director, as tipped by Civil Society last summer.

Mesquita has spent the last six months on ‘gardening leave’ under the terms of his contract with previous employer Rensburg Sheppards.

He said: “I had 11 happy years at Rensburg Sheppards and I am proud of having been instrumental in putting their charity capabilities on the map.

“It is an exciting time to join the business at Newton, and I will be expanding my role to cover private clients as we as utilising my charity expertise.”

Mesquita started his career in the City in 1986 as a fund manager at Capel-Cure Myers, before moving to Flemings in 1992.

He joined Rensburg Sheppards in 1998 to develop investment services for charities and was instrumental in the launch of the Charities Property Fund, the first common investment fund available to charities wanting to invest in direct property.

On his departure from Rensburg Sheppards, the firm emphasised that Mesquita had been working in a business development capacity and not in a hands-on fund management role.