In his newly-created role for the Tokyo-based firm, Low is responsible for leading a team of six portfolio advisers. The aim is to manage benchmark agnostic, long-only global equity portfolios.
With the team having been officially assembled on 1 August, next steps include adding strategies for UK and European clients.
“We have what I call a barbell strategy, where we have both high alpha investment managers and are a pioneer in passive management in the Asia region,” Yu-Ming Wang, deputy president and global head of investment, said.
“We believe demand for global equity is on the rise. With the new team, we plan to build our presence in the UK and add strategies which will be more relevant to institutional clients.”
However he said it was too early to comment on the product development timeline, adding that the team was keen to tap into institutional and other market segments.
“We expect to be up and running quickly,” Wang said.
Commenting on the investment philosophy of the investment team, Low said the strategy is orientated towards the longer term.
“The holding period for a stock is typically long. We are determined not to send client money to an investment bank, so there is a relatively low turnover of assets,” he said.
The new team led by Low will be based in Edinburgh and works closely with the company’s European team headquartered in London.
Low joined SWIP, now owned by Aberdeen Asset Management, in April 2011 as head of global equities, before being promoted to director of equities in August 2012. He was chiefly responsible for building a high alpha team, including portfolio management responsibilities on selected global and global ex US mandates. Prior to this, he spent 15 years at BlackRock.
The other members of the team are five investment directors, each responsible for research and stock selection in different sectors. Greig Bryson is responsible for healthcare and materials, Stephen Corr for industrials and technology, Iain Fulton covers consumer staples, consumer discretionary and technology, James Kinghorn manages global financials and Johnny Russell covers energy, telecommunications and utility sectors.
