Research England Council Member
Stephen Cohen is a member of Research England’s Council.
Stephen spent 35 years in executive roles in asset management, working globally, including setting up two businesses in Japan and living there for seven years. He worked for Mercury Asset Management for 20 years and set their global mutual fund business. He managed Japanese equity portfolios for 10 years, and latterly also ran a Japanese equity activist business. He also ran eight different asset management businesses.
He has extensive experience in ESG matters, shareholder engagement and corporate governance and has sat on multiple consultative committees for regulators.
He has now been a non-executive director for over 12 years, including having been Chair of the Health and Care Professions Council and Chair of the 4th National Lottery Committee for the Gambling Commission.
He is currently:
- Chair of the JPMorgan Japanese Investment Trust
- Chair of Audit at Schroders Capital Global Innovation Trust plc
- Chair of Audit at the Advanced Research Invention Agency
- Commissioner at the Civil Service Commission
He has wide experience of investing in technology businesses. Stephen will also shortly take up the role of Non-Executive Director at the Information Commission.
Stephen has a degree in physiology from University College, Oxford.
Last updated: 2 April 2026