The Board of JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust plc announced the appointment of Ashok Gupta as a non-executive Director of the company with effect from January 01, 2013. He is Advisor to the Group Chief Executive Officer at Old Mutual plc He is a Member of the FRC Actuarial Council, Chairman of eValueFE and Chairman of Skandia Life UK. From 2004 to 2009, he was a founder Director of Pearl Group, prior to which he held positions with Lloyds of London, CGU Plc, Scottish Amicable, Tillinghast-Towers Perrin and Bacon & Woodrow.

He was formerly a Director of The Pensions Regulator, J Rothschilds Assurance, Pearl Assurance, London Life & NPI. As previously disclosed, Paul Manduca, Chairman of the company, retires from the Board on December 31, 2012. Carolan Dobson will assume the role of Chairman of the company with effect from January 01, 2013.