Henderson bolsters Asian equities team
UK house Henderson Global Investors has moved to bolster its Asian equities team as it strives to increase its fund management presence in the region.
The firm, which had $6 billion (4.7%) of its $129 billion in global AUM sourced from Asia as of end-June, has hired Wee May Ling from Lloyd George Management (LGM) and Mervyn Koh from Franklin Templeton as deputy portfolio managers, both based in Singapore. The appointments were made last month and confirmed yesterday.
Moreover, the firm is also set to hire a research analyst next month, AsianInvestor understands. That would bring Henderson's Asia ex-Japan equities team to nine staff (seven in Singapore, two in London) managing Asian growth equity income and dedicated China products.
Henderson appointed Wee to support Charlie Awdry, portfolio manager for the Henderson Horizon China Fund and Henderson China Opportunities Fund. Awdry joined the Asia ex-Japan team this year in London. He replaced Caroline Maurer as manager of the Horizon China Fund, as reported.
Wee was hired from LGM, a wholly owned subsidiary of BMO Global Asset Management, where she had served as a portfolio manager for Greater China equities based in Hong Kong.
LGM’s Greater China strategy is co-managed by Stephen Ma, who joined LGM in November 2014, and June Lui, who became part of the LGM team from BMO Global Asset Management (EMEA) in late 2014.
Henderson named Koh to support Andrew Gillan, head of Asia ex-Japan equities, in managing the Henderson Horizon Asian Growth Fund and the Henderson Asia Pacific Capital Growth Fund.
Koh was hired from Franklin Templeton, where he was vice-president in the emerging markets group, responsible for equity research in Singapore and Indonesia as well as co-manager of a Southeast Asia fund.
A spokesperson from Franklin Templeton said Koh's responsibilities had been absorbed by the team and that he would not be replaced.