Weekly roundup of people news, Feb 19
SEI names first Asia head of AM distribution
US investment management and services firm SEI has named Brent Bell as Asia head of asset management distribution, a role created with a view to expanding its business in the region.
Bell, who assumed the post at the start of January, previously worked as an independent consultant from 2013 to 2015. He is based in SEI’s Hong Kong office and reports to Kevin Barr, head of the investment management unit.
Before his consultancy work, Bell was head of Asia for Genworth Financial's lifestyle protection business.
SEI has $262 billion in assets under management and $408 billion of assets under administration. Bell declined to break down separate figures for Asia.
Aviva Investors' Callander to relocate as Asia head
Aviva Investors, the asset management arm of UK insurer Aviva, is set to relocate Scott Callander from the Middle East to Singapore in the middle of the year. He is currently head of the Middle East and acting head of Asia Pacific, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The move will reportedly see him become managing director for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, overseeing the rollout of multi-strategy solutions across the region with a focus on business development.
It is not clear what this will mean for Kevin Talbot, chief executive for Asia Pacific at Aviva Investors.
The firm declined to comment on Callander's appointment, apart from to say it was subject to regulatory approval.
Callander has been head of the Middle East since April 2011, according to his Linkedin profile. He previously spent six years as Middle East managing director of Axa Investment Managers.
Pictet WM hires Barki as SE Asia MD
Pictet Wealth Management has appointed Grace Barki as managing director for Southeast Asia, effective February 15. She is an addition to the regional coverage team and does not replace anyone, said a spokesman.
Based in Singapore, Barki reports to Asia chief executive Claude Haberer, who pointed to her strong track record covering Southeast Asia, in particular Indonesia.
She previously worked for nearly three years as Southeast Asia head at Canada’s RBC Wealth Management before leaving in June last year. Prior to joining RBC, she was head of Southeast Asia at private bank J Safra Sarasin.
Societe Generale appoints first India FIG head
French bank Societe Generale has hired Sayan Das from RBS/ABN Amro as head of the financial institution group in India, a newly created position.
Das took up the role in Mumbai on January 18. He reports to Evelyne Collin, chief executive and country officer for India, and Jitendra Kamdar, head of FIG for Southeast Asia and India.
A Societe Generale spokesman said FIG in India had previously been the responsibility of its generalist coverage and transactions teams in Mumbai and its regional FIG team in Hong Kong.
Das has 20 years of experience covering financial institutions, of which the last 15 years were with RBS/ABN Amro Group, most recently as head of financial institutions in India.
RBS did not respond to requests for comment on who would replace Das.
Nikko AM names CEO for Europe
Tokyo-based Nikko Asset Management has appointed Udo von Werne as chief executive for Europe, with responsibility for the business across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Based in London, he will report to president and CEO Takumi Shibata. His appointment took effect on February 15.
The position of CEO for Europe is newly created, said Nikko AM. Michael Mulholland, chief operating officer for Europe, had been acting president for the past two years and would continue as COO.
Von Werne has 25 years’ experience in the financial industry, most recently as head of institutional clients for continental Europe at Pictet Asset Management.
MUFG Securities’ Tay moves to Singapore
Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Securities has relocated Tay Li Choo, regional head of the institutional client group (ICG) and head of credit sales for Asia, from Hong Kong to Singapore as of February 15.
The company, a member of MUFG, said Tay was the first regional head in Singapore on the business side; previous regional heads based in the city state have been in supporting functions.
Her responsibilities include managing the credit sales team across Asia, implementing cross-selling strategies and strengthening the client base.
Tay will continue to report to Hong Kong-based Dong Nam, head of credit trading and sales for Asia, and Trent Hagland, head of Asia and CEO for Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (Hong Kong). She also reports to Tom Daly, international head of ICG, based in New York.
New Asia chief for Jones Lang LaSalle
US property services group Jones Lang LaSalle has named Anthony Couse as Asia-Pacific chief executive to succeed Alastair Hughes, who will step down on July 1.
Couse, currently managing director for Shanghai and East China and head of capital markets for China, will take up the new role on June 1. He will serve alongside Hughes for the first month to ensure a smooth transition.
Couse will split his time between the group’s regional headquarters in Singapore and his Shanghai base and will report to CEO Colin Dyer. Couse's replacement will be named in the coming weeks, said JLL.
Hughes will depart after 28 years with JLL, having led its operations in the UK and later in Europe and the Middle East, before taking over as Asia-Pacific CEO in 2008. He will return to Britain, where his family is based, but has not settled on his future plans.
Couse joined the firm in London in 1989, moved to Hong Kong in 1993 then to Shanghai in 2006.
Other people moves reported in the past week on AsianInvestor.net:
China's Elevation Capital embarks on buildout
Aussie super association CEO exits, open to other posts
Schroders appoints Hong Kong distribution head