Samuel Watkins joined Pacific Investment Management Co.'s Sydney office Monday as executive vice president and head of business, Australia and New Zealand.
The position — focused on client-facing responsibilities but with oversight of business management functions such as legal and compliance, operations and marketing as well — is a new one at the firm, said Lucy Garth, senior vice president and head of marketing, Australia and New Zealand.
Eric Frerer, head of institutional account management, and Brendon Rodda, head of distribution, global wealth management for Australia and New Zealand, will report to Mr. Watkins.
Mr. Watkins, in turn, will report to Alec Kersman, PIMCO's Hong Kong-based managing director and head of Asia-Pacific, and work closely with Robert Mead, head of PIMCO Australia and co-head of Asia-Pacific portfolio management, according to a PIMCO news release.
Mr. Watkins come to PIMCO from Goldman Sachs, where he served as managing director and head of equity finance product, Asia-Pacific.
A Goldman spokesman couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
