Andrew Skirton, the former co-chief executive of Barclays Global Investors who left the group at the end of 2005, has taken the role of chairman of UK fund manager Gartmore's advisory board to advise on business performance and strategy.

The board, formed following Gartmore's management buyout by Hellman & Friedman in May last year, consists of three Gartmore directors and three from the US private equity group.