City firm denies Horlick rumour

City firm denies Horlick rumour

A fund-management company yesterday denied reports that Nicola Horlick, the former City high-flyer, was joining them as an employee.

Ely Fund Managers, which controls about pounds 250m of investors' money, said it had no plans to employ Ms Horlick.

One of the company's directors, Nick Bancroft, said yesterday that no discussions had taken place with her. "We have not talked to her and she has not talked to us. I've not met her and I don't think anybody else here has either," said Mr Bancroft. "The first we knew about this was when we read reports this morning."

The message was the same from a similarly named City firm, Ely Place Investments. A spokesman denied any knowledge of a deal involving Ms Horlick joining them.

"I've only met her once and that was at a presentation and we did not discuss jobs," he said.

Ms Horlick was dubbed "Superwoman" for her ability to juggle her high- flying job as pensions-fund manager at the City bank, Morgan Grenfell, with her role as the mother of five children.

She was ousted from the bank over allegations - which she denies - that she tried to lure her team of staff to a rival fund manager. She hit the headlines after inviting the media to join her as she confronted her bosses at Morgan Grenfell over her ejection from the company.

Ms Horlick could not be contacted yesterday.