Weekly roundup of people news, Nov 13
HSBC GLOBAL AM’S APAC HEAD OF CONSULTANT RELATIONS DEPARTS
Susie Spence, HSBC Global Asset Management’s former head of consultant relations for Asia Pacific, has left the fund house.
Her last day was in the past week or so and she had worked at HSBC in various divisions for 28 years, according to her LinkedIn profile.
"The role and relationship came to a very amicable end," a source familiar with Spence told AsianInvestor. "She is seeking new opportunities in 2021."
HSBC declined to comment on her departure. AsianInvestor could not ascertain Spence's next move or contact her immediately.
This story has been updated to include information on when Spence moved on and what her plans are now.
T. ROWE PRICE NAMES AUSTRALIA INVESTMENT ANALYST
T. Rowe Price has hired Nick Vidale as an investment analyst in Sydney.
Vidale is responsible for identifying investment opportunities in the financial sector for its Australian investment team. He reports to the team’s Sydney-based head of research, Ryan Martyn.
Vidale’s role is not a new one but he is not directly replacing anyone either. Other members of the Australian investment team previously shared the investment research coverage now looked after by him, a company spokeswoman said.
He was most recently a senior equities analyst at Perpetual, covering diversified financials, property developers, among others. Perpetual did not immediately comment on his departure.
Separately, David de Ferranti was hired as portfolio analyst in T. Rowe Price’s investment specialist group (ISG) in Sydney in mid-September. ISG is a team within the investment division dedicated to handling the flow of information between clients and portfolio managers. He reports to Nick Beecroft, Hong Kong-based head of ISG for Asia Pacific.
De Ferranti takes up a newly created role, assuming responsibilities from Sam Ruiz, Sydney-based portfolio specialist. The two now work alongside each other.
De Ferranti joins from Pendal Investment Management, which did not immediately comment on his departure.
OGIER STARTS ESG PRACTICE IN HONG KONG
Offshore law firm Ogier Global has hired Leonie Kelly in Hong Kong to set up a new practice to provide impact and environmental, social and governance (ESG) advisory services.
Its aim is to help asset managers, institutional investors, family offices, foundations and corporates working to integrate ESG factors into their operations and investment processes and to navigate ESG policy and regulation.
Kelly joined on November 9 from Hong Kong-based Sustainable Finance Initiative (SFI), where she was a partner focused on building an investor platform to promote the growth of sustainable finance in Asia. It’s understood SFI that will not be replacing her in that role.
She also previously worked as head of impact innovation and investment at the Zoological Society of London and at consultancy Deloitte.
Kelly remains an adviser to SFI and is a member of the climate change expert group at Hong Kong’s Securities & Futures Commission.
PICTET AM HIRES EX-LEGG MASON EXEC AS ASIA INTERMEDIARIES HEAD
Pictet Asset Management has hired Freeman Tsang from US fund house Legg Mason as its head of intermediaries for Asia ex-Japan, effective November 9.
Based in Hong Kong, Tsang is responsible for wholesale fund distribution and client relationship management in the Asia ex-Japan region. He reports to Junjie Watkins, Hong Kong-based chief executive for Asia ex-Japan.
Tsang will replace Lawrence Tse, who is leaving for personal reasons, a spokeswoman said. Tse will remain with the firm until the end of November to ensure a smooth transition. AsianInvestor could not ascertain his next destination.
Tsang is rejoining Pictet AM after 11 years at Legg Mason, most recently as head of Hong Kong, offshore China and Korea wholesale business; he had also looked after offshore Korea institutional business.
He was the firm's most senior executive in Hong Kong before Legg Mason's merger with Franklin Templeton earlier this year. Tsang left the combined group on October 31, as first reported by AsianInvestor.
Tsang was vice president of business development at Pictet AM from 2006 to 2009.
ODEY SETS UP EM EQUITY TEAM WITH VETERAN FROM NEWTON
London-based Odey Asset Management has hired Robert Marshall-Lee from Newton Investment Management to lead its first global emerging markets team managing long-only equity funds.
The Asian and emerging markets equity veteran will join Odey – which started out as a hedge fund manager – in March next year from Newton, a BNY Mellon subsidiary.
Marshall-Lee was lead portfolio manager of the BNY Mellon Global Emerging Markets Fund and the BNY Mellon Oriental Fund since 2011 and 2019 respectively, having joined the firm in 1999. His last day at Newton will be November 30.
Odey will be launching an open-ended emerging markets equity strategy following his arrival.
Marshall-Lee is expected to build his team in due course, but he will have access to Odey's 10-strong research team from day one, said a source familiar with the situation.
The appointment comes after Odey hired Jos Trusted in July from London-based hedge fund CQS to be head of institutional business. Odey declined to say who had looked after institutional client coverage previously.
The firm also brought in Paul Birchenough and Ian Smith on October 19, to manage its £1.5 billion emerging market and Asian equities strategies alongside Sophia Whitbread.
The duo joined from Axa Investment Managers, where they co-managed the Axa Framlington global emerging markets funds.
"Whilst regulatory approvals are being finalised, Mark Hargraves and Amanda O’Toole will manage the funds on an interim basis, taking over from Ian Smith and Paul Birchenough," said a spokesman for Axa IM.
JLL APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF CAPITAL MARKETS FOR CHINA
JLL has relocated Eric Pang to Beijing as head of capital markets for China, effective January 2021. Pang will move from the property services firm's London office. where he has been lead director for the UK-China business group since 2015.
Pang will report to KK Fung, CEO for Greater China and Stuart Crow, CEO for capital markets, Asia Pacific at JLL, for geography and business line, respectively.
Pang will service Chinese and international clients across all sectors, including sales, advisory and financing.
He joined JLL in 2004 in Beijing and was head of capital markets for North China prior to moving to London.
He replaced Jim Yap, head of investment sales for China, who previously double hatted as head of capital markets for China and head of capital markets for East China, a spokesman told AsianInvestor.
EQUITIES FIRST HIRES NEW HEADS OF KOREA AND THAILAND
US-based asset-backed financing specialist Equities First Holdings today appointed two senior executives to oversee its South Korea and Thailand operations, respectively, with effect from November 12.
James Lee Gee-Chul is managing director and chief executive of South Korea and Ratakorn Kiatikajornthada is managing director for Thailand. They will lead origination strategies for Equities First in each market.
Lee was previously a relationship partner for global institutional clients at South Korean law firm Kim & Chang. He has also served as Korea general counsel for Bank of America Merrill Lynch and worked at other law firms.
Ratakorn was previously Thailand head of equity capital markets at Macquarie. He has also held senior positions at RHB Securities and Daiwa Securities.
Senior foreign attorney Cho Ik-Hwan replaces Lee at Kim & Chang, while Macquarie declined to comment.
Lee Tae Ho and Worasak Kriengkomol were the previous heads at Equities First in South Korea and Thailand, respectively. They left in October and August and now list themselves as investment adviser and investor, respectively, on their LinkedIn pages.
Other market moves news this week: