In his new role, Benjamin — who will report to the group’s founder and CEO Simon Rogerson — will oversee all parts of the Octopus Investments business, including retail and institutional fundraising.

He will also manage the investment teams, which include Octopus Ventures and Octopus Real Estate.

Since joining the group in 2010, Benjamin has held several roles across the business, such as investment manager at Octopus Investments.

For the last four years prior to his promotion, he was CEO at Octopus Real Estate, during which he grew the team’s funds under management from £2bn to £3.8bn, launched several new funds, and spearheaded the Greener Homes Alliance partnership with Homes England.

Benjamin will succeed Ruth Handcock, who will remain within the wider group to support him in an advisory capacity through a transition period.

Ruth will remain on the Octopus Investments board, and will continue to act as chair of Octopus MoneyCoach, Seccl, and Guardian Angel.

In addition to the leadership changes, Octopus Investments has announced its plans to invest £50bn in people, ideas and industries “that will change the world” by 2030.

To help it raise significant new capital to meet this target, it will be exploring new growth opportunities in areas adjacent to its current investment focus.

These plans will be led by the group’s chief investment officer, Jonathan Digges.

Commenting on the promotions, Simon said that today’s announcements represent a “hugely exciting moment” for the company.

•   What does the specialist finance industry need in 2023 and beyond?
•   Octopus provides £22m commercial bridging loan to GSE Property Group
•   Octopus enters commercial lending market in Ireland

“Benjamin is a perfect example of the leaders we look for at Octopus; he is passionate about our mission and has already delivered several significant initiatives that have contributed to it. 

“This is the latest milestone for Benjamin in what’s already been a brilliant, varied career at Octopus, and I have supreme confidence in his ability to lead Octopus Investments.

“It is a bittersweet moment, particularly for Octopus Investments customers and employees, to see Ruth move to another part of the group — she has achieved an extraordinary amount during her four years as CEO and I can’t wait to see what I’m sure will be equally successful results in her new Octopus endeavour. 

“Like Benjamin, Ruth epitomises what it means to be part of our group: someone who places just as much emphasis on how she behaves as a colleague and leader as what she does.”

Benjamin stated: “To now have the opportunity to lead such a phenomenally successful business, as it continues to explore new areas of growth and grab opportunities that set it apart from other investment companies, is extremely exhilarating. 

“I’m looking forward to working with all of Octopus Investments’ sensational employees and loyal customers in the months and years to come.” 

Ruth stated: “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to lead a business like Octopus Investments over the past four years. I’ve learnt a huge amount from our customer-obsessed teams [. . . and] perhaps even more powerfully, I’ve learnt from our financial planning customers about the extraordinary impact that conversations can have in delivering brilliant financial outcomes. 

“I’m sad to leave Octopus Investments, but the experience has strongly shaped my belief that more people should have access to these outcomes.”