Insurers seek alternative assets to avoid profit squeeze

KIC appoints new deputy CIO; SSGA loses HK head of ETFs; Ping An AM portfolio manager exits; Bridgewater China hires tech head; Vanguard names new Asia head; BlackRock hires Apac head of iShares; CBRE Greater China advisory head departs and more.

Barings's ex-head of sovereigns joins ETF firm; HSBC Securities Services gets new client head; AQR pares Asia sales team; KKR appoints Asia-Pacific tech investment head; CGS-CIMB hires chief investment strategist; EFG poaches IAM team from UBS; First State names head of investment product research; HSBC GAM has management reshuffle and more.

The US firm's former Singapore chief is on gardening leave. Sources say he will take up an institutional client-focused role in Hong Kong at another large fund house.

The move is seen as unlikely to mean much change for asset owners in Asia Pacific, but fund managers will be keeping a close eye on how it develops.

The coronavirus pandemic are challenging investment strategies in more than one way. But the postponement of upcoming tighter regulations might provide a ray of light.