BNY Mellon adds Asia hands

Apr 8, 2009

BNY Mellon responds to customer requests for more on-the-ground support in alternative fund services by adding team members in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

The Bank of New York Mellon's alternative investment services division is appointing Aidan Houlihan as service delivery manager for Asia operations and Rie Nakamura-Haines as relationship manager.

Based in Hong Kong, Houlihan will develop and implement alternative investment services (AIS) operational infrastructure throughout the region. He will be the bank's first service delivery manager for Asia operations.

Nakamura-Haines is based in Tokyo and will make sure Japanese clients have the opportunity to take full advantage of the bank's alternative products.

The appointment of both Houlihan and Nakamura-Haines is in response to Asian customer requests for more on-the-ground support.

"Hedge funds, funds of funds and private equity funds recognise the key role played by their servicing provider in helping them grow their businesses by enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, allowing greater flexibility and mitigating risks," says Andrew Gordon, BNY Mellon executive vice-president and head of broker-dealer and AIS for Asia. "Our clients want us to be closer to them therefore providing on-the-ground support in Asia is the right next step for us."

Houlihan moves to Hong Kong from BNY Mellon's Bermuda office where he worked in global operations on hedge fund and alternatives servicing for clients. Nakamura-Haines relocates to Tokyo from the bank's Luxembourg office, bringing over 20 years of experience in the securities services industry, especially in managing Japanese client relationships.

In recent months, BNY Mellon has been expanding its businesses in Asia, notably in Japan. This month the bank appointed Shogo Yamaguchi president and representative director of BNY Mellon Asset Management in Japan. Last month it completed its acquisition of JP Morgan's Japanese global corporate trust business and plans to build on the deal to increase its business in the country.

Other banks, including Deutsche and UBS, have made recent leadership appointments in Japan.

BNY Mellon currently manages more than $200 billion in hedge fund assets globally.