Nottingham's 'Johnny Marr of Bonds' Dies at 55 After Cancer Battle

Jim Leaviss, a highly influential City player in corporate and government bonds, has passed away at 55 due to cancer. He was head of fixed income at M&G, overseeing a £130 billion portfolio. Leaviss joined the Bank of England as a trainee on Black Wednesday in 1992, but found his niche in the Bank's gilts office.

He met Theodora 'Theo' Zemek, head of M&G's fledgling fixed-income team, at a Christmas party and was offered a job. Leaviss became an inspirational mentor for younger entrants at M&G, with a commitment to social mobility. He built a team of 40 analysts and managers in London, Chicago, Singapore, and Paris.

Leaviss was known as the 'Johnny Marr of bonds' due to his ability to demystify bond-market complexities. He was charismatic, articulate, and media-friendly, with eclectic enthusiasms that ranged from David Bowie's music to Nottingham Forest FC. Leaviss predicted that central banks might write off vast 'quantitative easing' purchases of their own governments' bonds.