HSBC Global Asset Management appoints Joanna Munro CEO Asia Pacific

The lender banks on Munro's 24-year investment and management experience in grabbing opportunities in the region.

HSBC Global Asset Management on Wednesday announced the appointment of Joanna Munro as Chief Executive Officer, Asia-Pacific. She will take up her new role in the second quarter of 2011 and will be based in Hong Kong, reporting to John Flint, Global Chief Executive Officer in London.

Ms Munro has over 24 years of industry experience. She joined HSBC Global Asset Management in 2005 as Global Chief Investment Officer and became CEO of Multimanager in 2007, before taking up her current position as Global Head of Product in July 2010. Prior to joining HSBC, Ms Munro was responsible for UK institutional business and the global consultant relations team at AXA Investment Managers, and held senior positions at Salomon Brothers Asset Management and ABN Amro Asset Management, according to an HSBC report.

John Flint, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Global Asset Management, said: “Over the years, we have successfully built a strong franchise in Asia with a clear proposition focusing on emerging markets. The region is rich with opportunities arising from within and outside of the Group. With Joanna’s extensive investment and management experience, I believe our business in Asia will continue to enjoy strong growth under her leadership.”

Ms Munro holds a BA (Hons) in Mathematics and Engineering from Queens’ College in Cambridge, an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from Stanford University.

Ms Munro succeeds Rudolf Apenbrink who has moved to be the CEO for HSBC Global Asset Management in Europe in early October 2010. In the interim, to ensure a smooth transition in the region, Edmund Stokes, Chief Operating Officer, Asia-Pacific is the acting Chief Executive Officer.