Janus Henderson has nabbed Aberdeen Standard Investments private equity veteran Alex Barr to join its UK multi-asset and alternatives team as it joins the growing number of asset managers expanding their multi-asset expertise outside traditional bonds and equities.
Barr will become co-manager on a handful of multi-asset alternatives funds alongside James de Bunsen and Peter Webster, including the Henderson Alternative Strategies trust. He will be based in London for the newly created role.
At Aberdeen Standard Barr was global head of private markets and real estate investment oversight. His career has so far spanned 26 years in financial markets, specialising in alternative assets. He was lead manager of the Aberdeen Private Equity Fund Ltd.
In a press release, Janus Henderson said expansion of its multi-asset and alternatives business was a key strategic priority.
Strong trend
Willis Owen head of personal investing Adrian Lowcock said there is a strong trend within multi-asset to increase expertise in both the alternatives space and the private equity and unlisted areas of the investment market.
Lowcock said: “Companies have been taking longer to come to market with a full listing, waiting until they have large valuations before doing so, which means that investors have been missing out of the early and often most profitable opportunities.
“At the same time alternatives have been a growing asset class which offer diversification from traditional equity and bond portfolio’s and require specialist knowledge of the opportunities. They can add value by reducing risk as well as generating different income which is often inflation proofed.”
Barr will join in July 2019.
Paul O’Connor (pictured), head of UK multi asset at Janus Henderson, who Barr will report to, said his experience in private markets will help the team “build on our performance track record, enhance our quality of service to clients and grow our multi-asset capabilities”.
