Janus adds Asia COO role with ex-BGI Fred Horsey

Janus Capital has created the role of Asia-Pacific chief operating officer with the aim of delivering better service to institutional and wholesale clients, says Jack Lin, regional managing director.

The job will include responsibility for operations, compliance and client reporting, as well as working with regional heads of business to develop products and business strategies.

Fred Horsey has come aboard in the new role, bringing 20 years of experience. Most recently he was Asia COO at Barclays Global Investors, since acquired by BlackRock. He has also worked at JP Morgan in a variety of regional legal and product-development functions.

Lin credits the new emphasis on operations to Janus Capital’s new chief executive at its Denver headquarters, Richard Weil, who joined in January from Pimco.

“Dick is keen to build our international business, and our Asia business has reached critical mass to justify having such a role,” Lin explains. Janus has made similar moves in Europe, he adds.

Janus is also expanding its sales capacity with the hiring of Benjamin Hwa as sales director of financial institutions for Greater China. In practice, this means a focus on working with distributors in Taiwan, of which Hwa is a native.

His work will include Hong Kong, where he will be based, and mainland China, where Janus says it has been appointed to sub-advise a pending QDII mutual-fund mandate.

However, Janus wants to capitalise on momentum it has built in Taiwan. It appointed a new master agent, ING, in June and feels its brand has achieved market recognition.

“Ben will help our teams seek opportunities in China and Hong Kong, but for now, Taiwan is key,” says Lin.