Nikko Asset Management has appointed a global head of multi-asset in a bid to speed up the product development process.
In the newly-created role Al Clark, who previously worked at Schroders, will be responsible for driving the growth of the multi-asset business.
The group currently offers no multi-asset products but sees it as a vital area of expansion for the business.
Nikko AM global head of investment Yu-Ming Wang said Clark has proven experience in growing assets: “Nikko AM’s investment team will concentrate on delivering performance in their respective asset classes, and Al will ensure that this performance is captured and packaged into products and investment solutions that meet the needs of our global clients.
“His appointment will accelerate the speed at which we can bring competitive multi-asset, multi-region products to market.”
Based in Sydney, Clark will report to Wang at the office in Tokyo. The move is the latest in a series of hires this year, including the announcement that former Barclays head David Semaya will become executive chairman in September.
In February the firm also appointed a new sales and marketing head for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in a bid to grow its presence in the region.