Lawson was one of the original co-founders of SVM in 1990 and joined the broader River and Mercantile group in the 2022 rebrand. Prior to setting up SVM, she was an investment manager at FS Assurance, where she ran its flagship UK strategy, the FS Balanced Growth fund.
Veitch has managed the SVM UK Opportunities fund - which River and Mercantile Group is looking to merge with the SVS Revera Dynamic - since 2006, and was named alternate fund manager of the SVM UK Growth fund earlier this year. He has worked alongside Lawson for the last 17 years as part of SVM's UK equity team.
SVM UK Opportunities fund alters policy to allow derivatives
Before joining SVM, Veitch was responsible for UK mid- and small-cap investments at Dutch merchant bank Kempen Capital Management.
Alex Hoctor-Duncan, CEO of River and Mercantile, said: "Margaret carved out a name for herself over many years in the asset management industry and we want to thank her for her unstinting work and her devotion to the company.
"Margaret carefully planned her departure and she felt it was the right time to pass on her responsibilities as the company moves to a new phase in its growth, aligning SVM, Saracen Fund Managers and River and Mercantile under the one River and Mercantile banner."
He said: "Neil Veitch is the natural and obvious successor and he will now lead the fund with the support of the wider investment team. We wish Margaret all the best in her future endeavours."