Effective 1 January 2015, Andrea Muller took on the role of executive director-head of international distribution, which was previously held by Kirk West. West moves into the newly created role of executive director-head of international, assuming responsibility for all the international offices of Principal Global Investors outside the United States, and CEO of Asia.

Muller will assume responsibility for all sales, relationship management and client service activities in Asia-Pacific (including Japan and Australia), Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. She will relocate from Singapore to the United States.

Muller joined Principal Global Investors in 2010 as Asia CEO. She has been instrumental in the growth of the firm in Asia and the Middle East and has continued to build the asset management aspects of Principal International’s joint ventures in China and Malaysia. Prior to joining the firm, Muller held leadership positions with large multinational firms, including head of Asia-Pacific at Fitch Ratings, managing director at UBS in both Singapore and France, and European partner at Shearman and Sterling.

West’s new head of international role has been created to help address the complexity of managing a global asset management platform, and to provide additional senior management bandwidth outside the United States after a multi-year period of growth at Principal Global Investors. The firm’s regional CEOs will report directly to West. Together they will focus on ensuring best practices across all business functions in the pursuit of delivering appropriate investment solutions and service to clients, and to support the firm’s multi-boutique investment platform.

For more than 15 years, West has held a number of important roles with Principal Global Investors. He joined Bankers Trust Australia (BT) in 1988 and the Principal Financial Group in 1999 through its acquisition of the BT Funds Management Business. Prior roles with the firm have included: managing director of Asia (ex Japan), CEO of the Australian business, and CEO of the European business.

“Both Andrea and Kirk have successfully managed a wide variety of complex challenges facing the organization and contributed greatly to the rapid development and growth of the firm. We are looking forward to their continued commitment and contributions,” said Jim McCaughan, CEO of Principal Global Investors.

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“These prestigious awards are a testament to the excellent work done by many around the world,” said Jim McCaughan, CEO of Principal Global Investors.

“We’re pleased to be recognized globally for our broad expertise and ability to deliver strong investment performance.”

Investments & Pensions Europe
Earlier this month, Investments & Pensions Europe (IPE) magazine presented Principal Global Investors with two 2013 Pension Fund Perception Programme Awards. IPE is the leading European publication for institutional investors and those running pension funds. The awards recognize asset managers rated highest by their pension fund clients.

2013 Pension Fund Perception Programme Awards won by Principal Global Investors include:

• Managers Recommended to Other Pension Funds by 100% of Clients
• Highest-Rated Managers for Environmental, Social & Governance

Principal Global Investors was also nominated for the Highest-Rated Managers for Quality of Investment Management award.

Institutional Investor
Institutional Investor magazine will recognize Principal Global Equities with the top award in the non-U.S. equity value (excluding emerging markets) category at its 4th Annual U.S. Investment Management Awards on May 16 in New York City.

The awards highlight U.S. institutional investors in more than 35 asset classes and strategies who stood out for their exceptional performance, risk management and service. Award winners were chosen by the editorial staff of Institutional Investor based on the results of a survey of U.S. institutional investors.

Global Finance
Global Finance magazine recently announced the winners of its 6th annual awards for the World’s Best Islamic Financial Institutions. The publication, which provides data and analysis on international financial markets in 192 countries, named CIMB-Principal Islamic Asset Management the Best Asset Management Company. CIMB-Principal Islamic Asset Management is a partnership between Principal Global Investors and CIMB Group Holdings Berhad to provide Shariah-compliant investment solutions to global institutional investors.

The awards will be given on October 12 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

AsianInvestor
Principal Global Investors has been nominated for an award given by AsianInvestor magazine, the leading publication dedicated to the region’s asset management industry. The 2013 AsianInvestor Investment Performance Awards are based on a firm’s performance (in absolute or risk-adjusted terms) and ability to provide the best strategies and solutions to Asian clients.

Principal Global Investors’ nomination is in the Asia ex-Japan Equity category. The awards will be presented at an event on May 23 in Hong Kong.

These awards and nominations follow the December 2012 ranking of The Principal® as the top large company on Pensions & Investments magazine’s inaugural list of the Best Places to Work in Money Management.

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