Martin Currie to expand in Asia and Europe

Published on Saturday 21 March 2009 12:57

MARTIN Currie Investment Management, the international fund manager based in Edinburgh, is to open an office in Switzerland and grow its Asian operation as part of its overseas expansion plans.

The group is starting a Europe-wide search for a country head for Switzerland and is looking to have the position filled by the middle of the year.

Andy Sowerby, managing director at Martin Currie, said: "This is an exciting development for the business. We firmly believe in building a local sales and client service capability as our business grows.

"The Swiss market has increasingly supported our active equity approach and we now want to deepen our roots in this important market."

Martin Currie also plans to open an office in Hong Kong or Singapore, which will report into the Melbourne business which was set up last year.

Sowerby first identified Australia for expansion in 2006.

He said: "The Australian market is strategically very important for us. The opportunity is there because of the market dynamics, the high level of sophistication and the equity culture.

"Demand for international investing from Australia will continue to grow, both because of capacity issues and because of the Australian dollar."