Morley Fund Management, the UK’s largest active fund manager, has created two new positions in its Strategy team.
Morley Fund Management, the UK’s largest active fund manager, has created two new positions in its Strategy team. Hassan Johaadien has been appointed as asset allocation specialist and Sergio Ferreira has joined as a quantitative analyst.
Head of strategy Adrian Jarvis said the appointments are part of a move to expand the team and to take on additional stand-alone asset allocation mandates for new clients.
"These new appointments signal to the market that, on the back of our success with managing asset allocation within Ł80bn of balanced funds, we are now in a position to convert the strength of our internal asset allocation modelling into demonstrable benefits for a broader client base," he said.
Morley’s Strategy team already manages a stand-alone asset allocation mandate for Go Ahead, the public transport company.
"We know pension funds can generate great returns from stock selection and asset allocation. However, while the move from balanced to specialist can prove beneficial to pension funds’ stock selection, they are now missing out on the extra returns asset allocation can offer.
"Asset allocation is an increasingly important skill set and an important growth area for Morley," Mr Jarvis said.
With an investment career spanning more than 12 years, Hassan Johaadien joins Morley from Shell Pensions Management where he was head of research. He actively managed the asset allocation and rebalancing of the group’s pension funds (more than Ł10bn).
At Morley, he will be responsible for strengthening the group’s asset allocation capabilities and advising clients on their asset allocation mix. He will report to head of strategy Adrian Jarvis.
Prior to joining Morley as a quantitative analyst, Sergio Ferreira graduated from University College London with a masters of engineering.
At Morley, he will focus on strengthening in-house asset allocation models and monitoring the active quant funds’ cash flows and performance. He will report to Hassan Johaadien.
Morley has a successful track record of adding value through asset allocation, having added value in each of the previous seven years, and with overall performance significantly ahead of client targets.
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For further information please contact:
Beth Saint, Corporate Communications 020 7809 8125
Strahan Wallis, Corporate Communications 020 7809 8616
Notes to editors:
Morley Fund Management
Morley Fund Management Limited is the UK-based asset management business of Aviva plc. Firms within the Morley group of companies manage Ł155bn from offices around the world as at 31 January 2005.
Morley 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 under the Norwich Union brand, and international funds marketed under the Aviva Funds brand.
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