M&G has recruited Guan Yi Low as head of fixed income for Asia Pacific in the first of a series of hires to build out a team in the region.
Based in Singapore, Low will join from Eastspring Investments on 25 July where she has worked since 2007, most recently as head of fixed income for the region. She has been tasked with expanding the team in the city state and, in time, launching new strategies.
Low brings with her more than 20 years’ experience in Asian fixed income markets and will report to Jim Leaviss, chief investment officer of public fixed income, and Loretta Ng, head of Asia Pacific.
Before M&G demerged in October 2019, it was a subsidiary of Prudential alongside Eastspring. It carved out the UK and European operations after the Pru opted to become an Asia-led company.
A year later saw the firm offload its US arm, Jackson, after one of its largest shareholders argued there was little to align the American business with an Asia-focused parent company.
The formation of another investment team in the region is a strong indicator that M&G is more than happy to go head-to-head with its former parent company.
Enhanced global public debt platform
Ng has been expanding M&G’s investment and distribution capabilities in the region since 2019. She has overseen the formation of equity and debt origination teams.
The new fixed income team will provide regional coverage to the global and emerging market credit fund management and in-house research teams to support sovereign, investment grade and high-yield credit investment.
Jack Daniels, managing director for asset management & chief investment officer at M&G, said: “We continue to invest in talented teams and individuals as we build out our investment management capabilities in locations of strategic importance to our customers and clients, complementing our exceptionally strong teams in the UK.
“M&G has a track record in developing innovative public and private fixed income strategies. The build out of an Asia Pacific fixed income capability will enhance our global public debt platform and demonstrates our commitment to the region which has exciting long-term growth opportunities.”
Ng added: “Appointments of this calibre and experience demonstrate our ambition to grow our fixed income capabilities in the region. Under the leadership of Guan Yi, this team will complement our investment management capabilities in Europe and North America and, over time, bring exciting investment propositions to our clients both internationally and specifically in Asia Pacific.”
See also: M&G CIO Jack Daniels assumes extra responsibilities in leadership reshuffle
