Better luck this time: Putnam Investments has announced Dirk Morris will join the firm in a new position as managing director, head of currency, in an usually high-level job for a currency expert in a money management firm.
Mr. Morris had been international equities strategist with BT Australia until the firm was sold to Principal Financial Group.
Before going to BT Australia, Mr. Morris had been chief international economist and head of global currency for J.P. Morgan Investment Management, in both London and New York.
But it was only four months ago that Putnam faced the embarrassing situation of another highly touted ex-Morgan currency expert walking away from the same job. Avinash Persaud, whose pending move to Putnam was trumpeted in January, never occupied his waiting office: instead, he took up a similar post at State Street Bank & Trust Co., reportedly citing personal reasons for his change of mind.
