The board of JPMorgan Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc announced the appointment of Alice Ryder as an independent non-executive director of the company with effect from February 1, 2017. The appointment was part of the company’s succession planning and in anticipation of the retirement of Richard Fitzalan Howard. Alice is a partner of Stanhope Capital and Head of Stanhope Consulting. She has over 25 years of investment experience including 12 years advising substantial charity and not for profit clients. Alice commenced her career as an investment manager, initially at Henderson Administration and then at Framlington Investment Management. Alice is a non-executive director of BlackRock North American Income Trust PLC and a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.