Morley Fund Management, one of the UK’s largest fund managers, has appointed Mark Watts as head of global fixed income, reporting to Ceris Williams, head of fixed income.
Morley Fund Management, one of the UK’s largest fund managers, has appointed Mark Watts as head of global fixed income, reporting to Ceris Williams, head of fixed income. The purpose of Mark’s role is to enhance Morley’s global aggregate products by harnessing the extensive existing capabilities of the fixed income team, as well as developing new capabilities. He joins in January 2005.
Global aggregate products use a combination of government bonds, corporate bonds, currency, emerging markets and other assets to create an overarching global fixed income product. Morley’s fixed income team employs 50 professionals across all the fixed income asset classes and Mark’s focus will be to leverage these skills to build on its global product offering.
Mark’s hire reinforces Morley’s growing focus on a wider range of non-sterling denominated asset classes as a critical part of adding value to existing mandates. Three global fixed income fund managers and a portfolio analyst will report to Mark.
Mark joins from Baring Asset Management where he gained 18 years’ fixed income experience. Amongst his roles at Barings, he was a global fixed income fund manager and head of US fixed income based in its Boston office. Mark has fixed income experience across many markets and sectors, including derivatives. Most recently he was head of aggregates at Barings.
Commenting on the appointment, Ceris Williams, head of fixed income at Morley, said: "We are delighted to appoint Mark as head of global fixed income. His expertise across all fixed income asset classes and regions, combined with his experience of process and business have provided him with the skills necessary for the role. The development of global aggregate and other non-sterling products is part of an ongoing commitment to widening our fixed income product offering for the institutional market, particularly large and segregated mandates. This will help to consolidate our position as a premier UK-owned fixed income house."
Morley manages in excess of Ł54bn* of fixed income assets and employs 50 fixed income investment professionals, with existing capability in:
- Gilts
- G7 Sovereign debt
- Sterling, US Dollar and European corporate credit
- High yield
- Emerging Debt
During 2004, Morley has been hiring to reinforce the growth in its business, appointing 8 new investment professionals to the fixed income team.
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For further information please contact:
Fiona Baker, Head of Corporate Communications
Morley Fund Management
tel: 020 7809 8617
mob: 07736 883 832
Notes to Editors
Morley Fund Management
- Morley Fund Management (‘Morley’) is an independently managed, London based, asset management business with over Ł118 billion* under management. It actively manages a diverse range of asset classes and employs in the region of 900 staff worldwide based in London, Singapore and an associate office in Boston**.
- Morley is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Aviva group and manages both institutional and retail funds under the Morley brand. It also acts as investment manager for a range of retail investment funds, marketed in the UK by Norwich Union, and international funds marketed under the Aviva Funds brand.
*Not including mortgage assets, as at 30.9.04
**Morley Fund Management International Limited, an Aviva company
Awards
- Property Week Awards 2004 – Best Property Fund Manager
- Pensions Management Provider Awards 2003 – Best Property Fund Manager
- Fund Manager of the Year - Pensions Week Awards 2002
- Specialist Manager of the Year - UK Pensions Awards 2002
- Insurance Fund Manager of the Year (awarded to Norwich Union) - Standard and Poor’s 2002
- Sustainable and Ethical Investment and Asset Management Award - Liveable City Awards 2002
Further information about Morley Fund Management can be found at www.morleyfm.com