Weekly roundup of people news, June 14
NZ SUPER FUND APPOINTS ACTING CIO
The Guardians of NZ Superannuation, which manages the NZ$75 billion ($46 billion) New Zealand Superannuation Fund, appointed Alex Bacchus as its interim chief investment officer.
Bacchus, who has been with the Guardians since 2009, previously led the fund’s strategic tilting program, utilising skills within mean reversion investment strategies.
He previously held roles at Goldman Sachs JBWere in New Zealand and Merrill Lynch in London.
Bacchus steps into the role as Stephen Gilmore departs to join CalPERS, America's largest pension plan, as their new chief investment officer.
The Guardians will soon start looking for a permanent replacement.
ALAN YOUNG EXITS FRANKLIN TEMPLETON
Alan Young left his role as co-head of Hong Kong and head of institutional business for Greater China at Franklin Templeton in late May, after nearly 10 years with the US asset manager.
Simon Wong, co-head of Hong Kong and head of retail business for Greater China, has assumed the role of interim head of Hong Kong, a spokesperson told AsianInvestor.
Spencer Seto, head of institutional business for North Asia, continues to lead the firm’s institutional sales, consultant and client relationship efforts in the region, including Greater China, the spokesperson added.
Seto joined Frankin Templeton in February this year, having previously worked as Asia ex-Japan head of institutional sales at rival fund house Janus Henderson.
Young had moved to Franklin Templeton in late 2014 after working at firms including Schroder Investment Management, State Street Global Advisors and Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
“We would like to thank Alan for his contribution over the years and wish him well for the future,” the spokesperson said. “We do not expect this departure to cause any disruption for our clients or to Franklin Templeton’s business in the region.”
CIC NAMES CHIEF RISK OFFICER
China Investment Corporation (CIC) appointed Chen Zhong as executive vice president on June 3. According to CIC’s website, he also becomes chief risk officer of the sovereign wealth fund.
Chen succeeded Liu Haoling, who was promoted to CIC’s chief investment officer in February.
Before joining CIC, Chen was a provincial government official, leading the Industry and Information Technology Department of Shaanxi Province.
Chen was with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China for nearly 20 years and served in various leadership roles in credit and investment management.
AWARE SUPER COMPLETES LONDON TEAM WITH NEW HIRE
Aware Super has completed staffing its London office with the appointment of Mathieu Elshout as a senior investment director and the new head of the super fund’s European property strategy.
Effective from July 1, Elshout joins from PATRIZIA where he was senior managing director and head of sustainability & impact investing.
He will lead development of Aware Super’s European property investments, reporting to Damien Webb, head of international and deputy CIO, and Alek Misev, global head of property.
This key hire marks the filling of all initial positions in Aware Super's London investment team, bringing the total to 15 personnel.
Elshout's prior roles include over a decade at PGGM Investments.
Following Elshout's departure, Edward Pugh has been promoted to head of sustainability at PATRIZIA, continuing the development of their ESG strategy.
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON APPOINTS ASIA PRIVATE BANKS, FAMILY OFFICES HEAD
Franklin Templeton appointed Gaurav Bathija as head of private banks and family offices in Asia, effective May 27.
He will be based in Singapore and report to Christian Bucaro, head of wealth for Asia at Franklin Templeton.
In this newly created role, Bathija will have regional responsibilities to accelerate the growth of the firm’s private banking and family office network across Asia, working closely with local teams in key markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong.
Bathija has over 25 years of experience in capital markets, private equity and private banking across the US, the UK, and Asia.
Bathija was previously managing director of BNP Paribas Wealth Management, focusing on the family office segment in Southeast Asia.
He also worked at JP Morgan Private Bank and Citi Private Bank in Southeast Asia.
FIRST SENTIER NAMES SINGAPORE CEO, ASIA INSTITUTIONAL HEAD
First Sentier Investors appointed Christy Goh as head of the intermediary business, Asia, and CEO, Singapore and named Marcus Ong as head of institutional business, Asia.
Based in Singapore, Goh will oversee the intermediary business and lead the team in Asia, covering the business and strategy development in both North and Southeast Asia.
She was most recently head of distribution, Southeast Asia. She joined First Sentier Investors in 2006.
Ong will lead both North and Southeast Asia institutional sales activities in a newly created role. He joined First Sentier Investors as director of institutional business in 2022.
Both appointments are effective immediately.
Goh and Ong will report to Lauren Prendiville, managing director and head of distribution of APAC, whose role was expanded to include leadership of the business in Australia alongside Asia in 2023.
Prendiville was previously Singapore CEO, a spokesperson told AsianInvestor.
AsianInvestor understands that First Sentier is looking to hire more executives for its institutional business.
STARR INSURANCE GETS NEW JAPAN CEO
US-headquartered Starr Insurance appointed Jun Minorikawa as CEO, general manager, and legal representative at Starr Japan, effective June 12.
Based in Tokyo, he reports to Phil Finley, president and CEO of Starr Insurance in Asia Pacific.
Minorikawa succeeds Ryohei Nakazawa, who left the company on March 31.
Minorikawa joins Starr from credit insurance firm Coface, where he was country manager in Japan.
He resigned from Coface in May 2024 where Yoko Takemura, regional CFO for Asia Pacific and based in Tokyo, is the interim country manager of Japan until a successor is identified, a spokesperson told AsianInvestor.
MORNINGSTAR HIRES FIXED INCOME LEAD
Morningstar appointed Thomas Dutka as director of manager research and asset class leader for fixed income, multi-assets, and alternatives, effective June 10.
Dutka will be based in Sydney and succeeds Tim Wong, who moved to Genium Investment Partners in April.
Dutka comes from PATRIZIA, where he was the director of investment solutions, focusing on fixed income strategies for institutional clients in Australia.
With 17 years of industry experience, Dutka has previously held positions at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and Macquarie Asset Management.
PATRIZIA did not respond to AsianInvestor’s request for comment on Dutka’s replacement by the time of publication.