Joshua Crabb will join Old Mutual Global Investors as head of Asian equities, effective Oct. 1.
The position is new; Mr. Crabb will oversee the development of the firm’s Asian equity product range, a spokeswoman said. Mr. Crabb will initially be based in London, with plans to relocate to Hong Kong once required regulatory approvals are received, according to an OMGI news release Wednesday.
Mr. Crabb was a director and portfolio manager of BlackRock’s $735 million BGF Asia Pacific Equity Income Fund.
A BlackRock spokeswoman said Andrew Swan, the firm’s head of Asian equities, and Oisin Crawley, the Asian equities team’s head of research, have taken over management of the BGF Asia Pacific Equity Income Fund on a permanent basis.
In addition to Mr. Crabb, Kris Whitlock and Dmitry Lapidus will join Old Mutual Global Investors’ Asian equities team as analysts. Both positions are new.
Mr. Whitlock was an associate on BlackRock’s Asian equities team, and Mr. Lapidus was an analyst on the same team. Asked whether their positions would be filled, the BlackRock spokeswoman said the firm “continues to invest” in its Asian equities team.
The Old Mutual Global news release said Mr. Crabb and his team will take over management of the $270 million Old Mutual Pacific Equity Fund and the $40 million Old Mutual Asian Equity Fund, effective Oct. 15. The OMGI spokeswoman said the funds have been subadvised by First State Investment Management and Metisq Capital, respectively.
