Michelle Kidd was named vice president, institutional advisory group, at American Century Investments to lead the firm's new Sydney office, the company announced Wednesday.
Sydney becomes American Century's third non-U.S. office after London and Hong Kong, as the firm ramps up an overseas growth strategy begun roughly a decade before, said Joe Schultz, chief client officer, in an interview.
Ms. Kidd comes to American Century from Affiliated Managers Group, where she served as Sydney-based director of Australian distribution.
An AMG spokesman in the region declined comment.
Ms. Kidd will report to Elizabeth Trinh, American Century's Hong Kong-based head of Australia and New Zealand.
Mr. Schultz said American Century currently has nine institutional clients in Australia with combined assets of A$2 billion ($1.5 billion).
The firm's momentum in that country's fast-growing retirement market has helped boost the assets American Century manages for Asia-Pacific-based investors to between $5 billion and $6 billion today from between $500 million and $1 billion five years ago, he said.
American Century's non-U.S. clients globally account for roughly $25 billion — or 15% — of the firm's $170 billion total assets under management as of April 20, Mr. Schultz said.
The firm's clients in Australia are predominantly invested in American Century's global growth equity strategy, but Mr. Schultz said Ms. Kidd will be focusing on a broader range of offerings, including the firm's global small-cap equities, emerging markets equities, emerging markets debt and fixed-income capabilities.
