Jones will co-manage the portfolio alongside Angus Tulloch, who remains lead manager on the fund. Jones also works alongside Martin Lau on the £1.5bn First State Asian Equity Plus portfolio.
Thompson will remain a full member of the First State Stewart team contributing to client portfolios.
Thompson will be based in Singapore but the Stewart team also has analysts based in Edinburgh and Hong Kong.
Asia Pacific Leaders has returned 11.4% over three years compared with the IMA Asia Pacific ex Japan sector’s 2.2%, according to FE data.
