AMERICAN CENTURY'S KOREA INSTO EXEC TO JOIN WTW 

Investment consultancy Willis Towers Watson has hired Cho Jihyun from American Century Investments, where she oversees institutional sales for Korea but will depart on June 30.

After eight years with the US fund house in Hong Kong, Cho – who is known as ‘CJ’ – will take up the role of investment director at WTW in September.

Remaining in Hong Kong, she will start at WTW as a new addition to the team and report to Jayne Bok, Asia head of investments, a spokeswoman told AsianInvestor.

She declined to comment on why the post had been created or what Cho would cover, but it seems likely that at least part of her new role will involve advising Korean clients, given her previous experience.

American Century has a recruitment search under way to replace Cho as vice president of international sales, a spokeswoman for the fund house said.

Before joining American Century in 2012, Cho had worked for firms including ING Securities, CLSA and HSBC Securities, according to her LinkedIn page.

CIC SEES EXECUTIVE VP DEPART

Liu Jun will no longer serve as executive vice president of China Investment Corporation, the sovereign wealth fund said in a statement last week. 

Liu helped to construct CIC's risk management system, strengthening investment operation capabilities and optimising IT application during his tenure there, CIC said.

KNIGHT FRANK HIRES SINGAPORE ADVISORY DUO 

Real estate services firm Knight Frank has made two senior hires in Singapore.

It has re-hired Alice Tan, who left in May, as head of consultancy for Singapore. Tan was a director on Knight Frank’s residential project marketing team in Singapore before she left to join Edmund Tie & Company as senior director of research and consulting.

A spokesman said Edmund Tie had found a replacement, but declined to provide further details.

Alice Tan
Alice Tan

Between June 2012 and June 2018, she was a director in Knight Frank’s consultancy and research division. She will start her new role in August, taking over from Tay Kah Poh, who’s retiring after six years with Knight Frank.

 

Knight Frank has also hired Leonard Tay as head of research for Singapore from May. He previously pursued projects in other industries.

Tay's last stint in real estate was at property services firm Colliers in 2015 as associate director of the research and consultancy team, said a spokeswoman. Lee Nai Jia was the previous Knight Frank research head. He left the firm in April.

Both will report to Wendy Tang, group managing director for Knight Frank in Singapore.

DEUTSCHE BANK WM TAPS HSBC FOR SE ASIA HEAD

Deutsche Bank has hired Chow Shang-Wei as the head designate of wealth management for Southeast Asia. He is expected to take over in July from Kwong Kin-Mun, who is set to retire.

Chow joins from HSBC Private Bank, where he was a managing director and market head for Singapore and Malaysia. HSBC couldn't be reached for comment.

He was previously at UBS between 2004 and 2016, covering Southeast Asia and Australia. Chow started his career at Singapore's UOB.

Chow is expected to start his new role in July.

FAMILY OFFICE KAMET CAPITAL ADDS SEVEN STAFF 

Kamet Capital Partners, a Singapore family office with around $1 billion in assets under management, has reportedly added seven staff since April, bringing its total headcount to 25. Two more will be added by September, said chief executive Kerry Goh. His firm runs money for four families.

Kamet could not be reached for confirmation or comment.

Among the new recruits are Wilson Er, a portfolio manager previously at Rockpool Capital in Hong Kong, and David Law, a money manager and analyst joining from Mizuho Asset Management in Singapore. Rockpool and Mizuho AM did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

Er, Law and two analysts have joined the investment team. Three others from China and Southeast Asia will help with administrative needs of the families. 

CAPITAL GROUP HIRES SALES DUO IN SINGAPORE

US fund house Capital Group has appointed two new associates in Singapore for its Asia distribution team this month.

Keith Wong

Keith Wong took up the role of associate director for financial intermediaries in Asia, while Jasmine Huang joins as associate director for product marketing in Asia and Europe.

Wong reports to Jeik Sohn, managing director for financial intermediaries in Asia, and Huang to Janelle Li, director for product marketing in Asia and Europe. Sohn and Li are based in Singapore.

Jasmine Huang

Both are newly created posts as Capital looks to strengthen its sales capabilities in the region, a company spokeswoman said. 

Wong joins from JP Morgan Private Bank, where he was a Singapore-based associate. A spokeswoman declined to comment on his departure.  

Huang was previously a Singapore-based senior product content specialist at US fund manager Franklin Templeton. Her last official date there was May 27, and she has not yet been replaced, a spokesman said. There is no plan to replace Huang at this time, he said.

BNPP WM'S ASIA DERIVATIVES HEAD DEPARTS

Henry Hui

Henry Hui has resigned from his role as Hong Kong-based head of structured investments and derivatives for Asia at BNP Paribas Wealth Management.

AsianInvestor could not ascertain his next move. A company spokeswoman declined to comment on his departure.