The new hire is succeeding Xavier Meyer, following Meyer's recent promotion to CEO at Aberdeen Investments.

Edinburgh-headquartered Aberdeen Investments, which manages and administers ÂŁ511 billion ($611 billion) of its clients’ assets, has just appointed John McCareins (pictured) as its new chief client officer, based in London. Effective mid-June 2025, he will be joining from Northern Trust Asset Management, where he was executive vice president and head of international, the firm said in a statement. 

McCareins, who will sit on Aberdeen’s group executive leadership team, has more than 25 years of institutional investment and advisory experience. He has a track record of growing high-performing cross-functional teams in a range of territories and asset classes. 

Most recently, McCareins led Northern Trust Asset Management’s international business from London, including APAC and EMEA, the firm continued. Prior to that, he led its APAC business based in Hong Kong. He spent his early years in Northern Trust in his home-town of Chicago in the multi-manager solutions practice. 

McCareins will be responsible for Aberdeen Investments’ global commercial franchise, including partnerships, business development, client experience and advancing its solutions capabilities covering insurance companies, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions and wealth managers.

“John combines a proven track record of delivering strong organic growth and exceptional client service, with an emphasis on people, solutions and process,” Xavier Meyer, CEO of Aberdeen Investments, said.

McCareins, who is also keen on mentoring young people from underprivileged backgrounds, is a mentor and career coach for a number of initiatives including Black Women in Asset Management.