NEW KOREA INSTITUTIONAL HEAD JOINS DIMENSIONAL

US asset manager Dimensional Fund Advisors has hired Kim Jungtae as head of Korea institutional business based in Singapore, effective this month, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Kim was previously a fixed-income portfolio manager at Samsung Asset Management, managing assets for Samsung Life Insurance.

A spokesman for Dimensional declined to comment on the hire. Samsung Asset Management did not respond to queries from AsianInvestor.

BNP PARIBAS AM’S GREATER CHINA SALES HEAD LEAVES

He Yiwei, BNP Paribas Asset Management’s business development head for Greater China, left the firm earlier this month, a spokesman for the firm confirmed to AsianInvestor.

He’s licence with the firm ended on June 8. 

The asset manager is seeking a replacement, the spokesman added.

The departure is part of a restructuring of the China operations at the French fund house. In April, AsianInvestor reported that the Chinese operations, which previously had separate onshore and offshore sales team, were consolidated under Hong Kong-based Ross Lu, formerly with BlackRock.

QIC NAMES CLIENTS AND MARKETING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Australian state-owned investor Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) has promoted Leonie Wilkinson to executive director of global clients and marketing.

Wilkinson will be responsible for QIC's interactions and relationships with institutional clients, client services, distribution and marketing, a QIC spokeswoman said.

Wilkinson, who will also join the executive committee, will report to QIC chief executive Damien Frawley, and she starts her role on July 1.

She replaces David Asplin, who will start his new role as QIC chief operating officer for global real estate the same day, said the spokeswoman.

She is now director and investment specialist in global real estate for QIC.

QIC did not respond to questions on whether a replacement has been announced for her current role, or who would be covering her duties in the interim.

JANUS HENDERSON REPLACES ASIA DISTRIBUTION HEAD

Janus Henderson Investors has appointed Scott Steele as head of Asia distribution (ex-Japan and ex-Australia) based in Singapore, effective June 18.

He will report to Phil Wagstaff, global head of distribution, the company said in a statement.

Steele replaces Alexander Henderson, who will return to London. A spokesman said Henderson's new title had not been confirmed, though he would continue to report to Wagstaff.

Steele was previously at US fund manager Pimco, where he was head of Hong Kong and Singapore global wealth management. Before that he was chief investment officer at BMO Mutual Funds.

A Pimco spokeswoman told AsianInvestor that Todd Staley, previously head of Hong Kong institutional and Taiwan, had taken over Steele’s role.

Hong Kong-based Yin Haining, who leads the Greater China team, will also now manage the China, Hong Kong institutional and Taiwan teams, added the spokeswoman.

UBS AM REAL ESTATE, PRIVATE MARKETS EXEC TO EXIT

Christiaan van Beek, executive director of Asia Pacific business development for real estate and private markets at UBS Asset Management, is leaving the firm, AsianInvestor understands.

He joined the Swiss asset manager in Hong Kong in July 2015, according to his Linkedin page.

His licence with the firm ended on June 13. 

He has previously worked for Aberdeen Asset Management, CBRE and Colliers.

AsianInvestor was unable to ascertain his next move or his last day at UBS AM.

AMP CAPITAL ADDS TO LISTED REAL ESTATE TEAM

AMP Capital said it had appointed Anika Minocha as portfolio manager and analyst on its global listed real estate (GLRE) team, based in Sydney.

She joins the team in July after completing various rotations on the AMP Capital graduate programme including two stints with the GLRE team, a media statement said.

The Australian fund house also announced the appointment of Hideharu Ichii as portfolio manager and analyst in the same team from July 2, which was previously reported by AsianInvestor.

Ichii will reprt to Jessica Koh, head of Asian listed real estate, while Minocha will report to James Maydew, head of GLRE.

The GLRE team consists of 14 investment professionals, including the two new hires.

FWD VICE CHAIRMAN STEPS DOWN

FWD Group's vice chairman of the board and senior adviser to FWD Japan, Kazuyuki Takahashi, has stepped down from both roles with the Hong Kong-based insurance group.

Takahashi was appointed to the vice chairman position in 2014, and he has served as senior adviser to FWD Japan since stepping down as representative director, president and chief executive of FWD’s Japan operation in 2017.

He left FWD Group at the end of May, an FWD spokeswoman said.

Takahashi's board position will not be replaced, and Dennis Ziengs will continue in his role as vice chairman and non-executive director, the spokeswoman added.

COLLIERS APPOINTS JAPAN VALUATION & ADVISORY SERVICES HEAD

Canadian real estate services firm Colliers International has named Masahiro Fuse as head of Japan valuation and advisory services.

Fuse is based in Tokyo, and he oversees valuation, appraisal and advisory services for domestic and international clients.

He started in April and reports to Colliers Japan managing director Katsuji Tokita, a Colliers spokeswoman said.

The role is newly created in order to strengthen the property services firm’s client offerings in Japan, said the spokeswoman.

Prior to Fuse’s appointment, licensed appraisers in their capital markets and investment team provided valuation services, the spokeswoman added.

Fuse was most recently director of business development for rival real estate services firm CBRE Japan.

CBRE declined to comment on Fuse’s exit date, as well as whether a replacement has been announced yet.

SIDLEY AUSTIN ADDS TO HK GLOBAL FINANCE PRACTICE TEAM

US law firm Sidley Austin has hired Allan Wardrop as a partner in its global finance practice team.

Wardrop is based in Hong Kong, and he represents private equity sponsors, hedge funds, asset managers, and commercial and investment banks concerning mezzanine, special situation financing and investments.

He started his role on June 15, a Sidley Austin spokesman said.

Wardrop was most recently a partner at law firm Hogan Lovells.

Hogan Lovells declined to comment on his exit date and whether a replacement has been announced yet.

Other people news reported by AsianInvestor last week:

Capital Group insto head leaves for Lazard AM

Lindsay Wright exits BNY Mellon