James Douglas, with over 9 years of experience within the financial services industry, joins Martin Currie as an Investment Client Portfolio Manager. Based in Melbourne, Douglas will be embedded within the investment team, to promote Martin Currie’s core suite of Australian and Global investment capabilities to the institutional marketplace in Australia.

Julia Wang joins as a Research Analyst for large cap equities. With over three years of experience as an investment analyst, she will be responsible for research across the Consumer and Financial sectors.

Both Douglas and Wang come to Martin Currie from Franklin Templeton’s Balanced Equity Management (BEM). At BEM, Douglas was responsible for trading and portfolio management. He has also worked at JANA Investment Advisers. Prior to BEM, Wang was at KPMG.

Martin Currie has also appointed Bowei (Sam) Li as a Quantitative Analyst. Sam had joined Martin Currie Australia in January 2021 and has now joined the team permanently in a newly created role to bolster the quantitative resources of the investment team. Sam was previously a Quantitative Developer at Frontier Advisors.

Kimon Kouryialas, Co-Head of Global Distribution, Martin Currie notes: “We have an enormous opportunity to build our business in Australia and across Asia and to establish ourselves as a leading active equity specialist. The addition of James to our team reflects our strong alignment with investment-led solutions and client service. We are delighted to have him on board.

“Today we are very pleased to have a strong team of 20 professionals in Australia and the Australian equity assets under management have grown from A$3 to A$10 billion in just over a decade,” says Kouryialas.

Reece Birtles, Chief Investment Officer for MCA adds: “As active managers we are constantly looking to attract the highest calibre of research talent to the firm. We are delighted to have Julia at Martin Currie where her skills will bring significant value to our client base.

“Sam’s appointment provides us with further support and resources in our quantitative efforts and he will be working closely with Matt Lambert and Naomi Bant using quantitative research methodologies to design, test and maintain disciplined investment processes.”

Birtles adds: “The addition of these experienced professionals demonstrates Martin Currie’s focus on continuing to provide market leading performance and client solutions that deliver benefits such as active ownership and active after-tax management.”

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tower crane building bar graph with gearwheels, concept of establishing business growth

Acorn Capital announces successful raising of funds for for the Acorn Capital Expansion Platform.

Fund manager Acorn Capital announces its successful raising of $52.5 million in commitments for the Acorn Capital Expansion Platform (ACEP).

ACEP, which will undertake venture capital investments in innovative, emerging Australian companies, is targeting businesses with a sustainable competitive advantage and the potential to be leaders in their industries.

Acorn Capital Investment Director James Douglas said the success of the raising showed there was strong appetite from investors for innovative companies at the expansion stage, with investors in ACEP including leading family office groups, private investors and entrepreneurs.

“There is an enormous amount of innovation in Australia, but there is limited capital available, particularly at the expansion stage,” Mr Douglas said.

“ACEP will invest in these innovative companies and leverage Acorn Capital’s long term experience supporting emerging growth companies.” Acorn Capital CEO Robert Routley said: “Acorn Capital’s team is uniquely placed with strong expertise across all industries.

“Acorn Capital’s broad approach provides an opportunity to participate not just in new technologies but in positive economic outcomes for Australia such as employment growth and productivity.”

Acorn Capital is a pioneer in Australian emerging company investment, having invested in names including Redbubble, Telix, amaysim, Genea, Carbon Revolution, Moula Money, Cleanspace Technology, Calix, IAS Group, Aroa Biosurgery and FlareHR.

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