The World Gold Council further strengthens Investment capability with recruitment of William Rhind as Managing Director, Institutional Investment

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the recent appointments of Kevin Feldman as Managing Director of Investment globally and Robert Alderman as Managing Director, Private Investment, the World Gold Council has further strengthened its investment expertise with the addition of William Rhind as Managing Director of its Institutional Investment programme in the US, a newly created position.

He will be responsible for developing and implementing initiatives focused on expanding the use of SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) and other physical gold-backed products, as a portfolio level asset by institutional investors. He will also focus on enhancing sales and distribution of SPDR Gold Shares (GLD). The World Gold Council, through its wholly owned subsidiary World Gold Trust Services, is the Sponsor of GLD, the world's largest physically backed gold exchange traded fund with more than $40b in gold under management.

William was most recently Managing Director and a member of the executive committee at ETF Securities. For the past four years he has been focused on the US ETF market where he led the growth of ETF Securities business. William originally joined ETF Securities to manage the UK sales business. Prior to his work with ETF Securities, William was a Principal on the iShares UK sales team. He began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at investment bank Nomura International in London.  

William graduated from the University of Bath in England with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in French, Russian, Politics and Economics.

Commenting on his appointment William said: "I am delighted to be joining the World Gold Council and look forward to helping investors better understand the benefits of including gold in their portfolio strategies. The World Gold Council has an enviable track record in developing and bringing innovative products and services to the markets in which it operates, across the globe, and I'm looking forward to building on the strong success of GLD."

Commenting on the appointment, Managing Director for Investment Worldwide, Kevin Feldman said: "Will comes to us with a deep knowledge and understanding of the gold ETF marketplace and the role that these instruments play in a broad range of investment strategies. We are delighted that he will now be applying his talent to broadening the investor base for GLD, the premier gold backed ETF. Will is a respected professional in the gold industry and will add a great deal of value to World Gold Council's Investment team."

William's appointment is effective 1 October 2013. Based in New York, he will report to Kevin Feldman.

Note to editors:

World Gold Council
The World Gold Council is the market development organisation for the gold industry. Working within the investment, jewellery and technology sectors, as well as engaging in government affairs, our purpose is to provide industry leadership, whilst stimulating and sustaining demand for gold.

We develop gold-backed solutions, services and markets, based on true market insight. As a result, we create structural shifts in demand for gold across key market sectors.

We provide insights into the international gold markets, helping people to better understand the wealth preservation qualities of gold and its role in meeting the social and environmental needs of society.

Based in the UK, with operations in India, the Far East, Europe and the US, the World Gold Council is an association whose members include the world's leading and most forward thinking gold mining companies.

SOURCE World Gold Council