BBH hires Asia head of relationship management and sales

US-based Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH) has hired Scott McLaren in a new role as head of relationship management and sales for Asia as it seeks to drive regional expansion.

McLaren joined the firm last week and will lead a team of five RMs based in Hong Kong. He was previously managing director for RBC Dexia in Hong Kong, but left earlier this year prior to accepting this role.

He will now focus on serving and growing BBH’s base of global clients, which are looking to invest or distribute products in Asia, as well as increasing the financial assets that the firm services.

BBH provides custody and administration of asset manager funds (typically offshore) and Hong Kong-domiciled funds, including from an FX, securities lending and brokerage perspective.

BBH also serves financial institutions, both as sub-custodian for the private bank community, and for custody and trust bank-type organisations that require a sub-custodian either for a specific market, typically the US, or globally.

McLaren will report to Bill Rosensweig, managing director for BBH (Hong Kong), who expects his experience on distribution and distribution support to pay dividends.

“Our strategy is to facilitate investment by Asian financial institutions into global markets and by global investors into Asian markets,” he says. “Serving as a bridge between these two and helping fund managers distribute products in Asia is a key part of our strategy.”

McLaren spent a total of 13 years at RBC Dexia in its Luxembourg, Singapore and Hong Kong offices. He held various senior positions, including head of sales and distribution for Asia-Pacific, managing director of trust services in Hong Kong and deputy managing director of Singapore.

In Luxembourg he spearheaded the business development and client relationship activities across Europe, the US and Asia.