AXA Investment Managers has appointed John King to its UK equities desk as an assistant portfolio manager in an effort to strengthen the team.

King, based in London, will support the seven strong UK equities team, which is led by George Luckraft, Head of UK equities at AXA IM.

He joins the team from Jefferies where he was a senior vice president for the UK equity sales team, and has spent the last six years in UK equities, working at N+1 Singer and UBS as well as a five year stretch at Ernst & Young.

Commenting on the appointment, Rob Bailey, head of UK wholesale distribution at AXA IM, said: “AXA IM has always been very committed to UK equities as one of our flagship fund ranges and John’s addition to the desk highlights our continued dedication to the sector and our desire to grow assets further.”