abrdn hires from State Street

abrdn has recruited Raf Choudhury as investment director to strengthen its local multi-asset team.

Choudhury joins from State Street Global Advisors, where he served as a portfolio manager for more than 17 years.

Most recently, he was the asset manager's head of investment strategy and research for Australia.

Earlier in his career, he worked at EDS as a business systems analyst, ABN AMRO as a projects administrator, and JP Morgan Chase as a trade support operative.

Irene Goh, head of multi-asset investment solutions, Asia Pacific, said the appointment underscores abdrn's commitment to the business and clients in Australia, with Choudhury driving the growth of its multi-asset investment capability locally.

Goh said a key part of his role is to contribute investment insights to the broader MAIS teams.

"With his experience, we look to Raf delivering valuable and sophisticated analytical research as well as investment strategies to the regional and global investment network," she said.

Abrdn's Australian managing director Brett Jollie said the firm created a new position in response to current client needs.

"While Raf will be the multi-asset business' point person here in Australia, he will be backed by our large global team of more than 100 MAIS professionals who manage more than $83billion in multi-asset investment strategies," he added.

"Raf will also play an integral role in the development and further growth of our managed account capability."

Jollie said abrdn Australia currently has a suite of over 20 separately managed account solutions for financial advice licensees and advisers to tap into and is a core growth pillar for the Australian business.