Threadneedle today announces two new hires to its fixed income team, with Singapore-based Clifford Lau joining in the newly created role of Head of Asia Pacific Fixed Income and Zara Kazaryan joining as Fund Manager, Emerging Markets Debt (EMD) in London.
The appointments follow the recently announced restructure of Threadneedle’s Fixed Income team and significantly strengthen the company’s emerging market debt capabilities as well as the depth of the broader global fixed income team.
Mr Lau joins Threadneedle from Pramerica Fixed Income, the asset management division of Prudential Financial Inc. He is recognised as one of the leading managers of Asian Fixed Income in the region, and has been voted by Asian institutional magazine The Asset as amongst the Most Astute Asian Bond Investors every year since 2004. Mr Lau was Head of the Singapore office of Pramerica, which he joined in 2000. He had lead management responsibility for approx. US$1.0 billion of Asian fixed income assets. Mr Lau joins Threadneedle on 18 June and will be based in the Singapore office.
Mrs Kazaryan joins Threadneedle from G2 Capital Partners LLP (formerly known as Alcantara Asset Management LLP), the emerging markets debt specialist asset manager, where she has worked since 2009, most recently as a Portfolio Manager responsible for a long-only emerging markets fixed income fund. She joins Threadneedle in London on 2 July.
Raymundo Yu, Asia Pacific Chairman at Threadneedle, commented: “Clifford is an outstanding talent and his appointment in this new senior role adds an important dimension to our emerging market capability as well as supporting our growing Asia Pacific business. Clifford brings substantial on-the-ground experience across Asian fixed income sectors, and I look forward to his contribution to the investment team and to our growing Asia Pacific business. His deep experience and understanding of client needs across the region will further enhance our ability to deliver products and performance that meets the long-term needs of investors.
Jim Cielinksi, Head of Fixed Income at Threadneedle, commented: “I’m delighted to welcome both Clifford and Zara to Threadneedle. Clifford will bring a new perspective to the investment team and we look forward to his contribution to our culture of open discussion, debate and sharing of ideas. Zara brings in-depth knowledge of local emerging markets and securities, combined with strong macro-economic analysis. Along with that of Clifford, her appointment reflects our continued commitment to building out and strengthening our fixed income capability,” Mr Cielinski said.
Threadneedle recently announced changes to the structure of its Fixed Income capability to enhance collaboration and integration across the fixed income platform and to better respond to changing market dynamics. The restructure included the establishment of a Global Macroeconomic Strategy Group to better integrate macroeconomic strategies across developed and emerging markets, consistent with the company’s view that traditional fixed income boundaries are increasingly less relevant.
“Our new approach acknowledges the seismic shift in fixed income markets that has been experienced post the credit crunch, a theme I have discussed extensively with clients over the past year. The new structure recognises that markets are continuing to evolve and it better enables us, as investors, to respond to client needs and to deliver sustainable long-term returns. It is also consistent with Threadneedle’s collaborative investment approach and enables us to fully leverage insights gained from our culture of idea sharing and debate,” Mr Cielinski said.
Threadneedle’s Fixed Income team comprises 42 investment professionals across emerging and developed markets, with specialist expertise in investment grade and high yield credit, government bonds, currencies and commodities. Threadneedle manages over £28.5bn in fixed income assets (as at 31 March 2012).
