Chris Rands: Returning to Nikko AM

Chris Rands, a long-serving Nikko Asset management fixed-income executive, has returned to the firm after a two-year stint with Yarra Capital.

Rands, who has relocated to Singapore to join Nikko's global multi-asset team is very well known as an economics commentator whose views were sought by most news outlets.

Most recently, he provided a robust analysis of Australia's 2023 rates outlook, inflation, the risk of a global recession and the confusion created by the central bank.

For the bond specialist, taking the new role as a senior portfolio manager- multi-assets meant he could expand his career and develop skills beyond fixed income.

"I felt it was a good time to make the move as the Asian investment markets offer a greater variety of opportunities than Australia, and the region continues to grow strongly," he said.

"It was also great that I got to come and work for Nikko AM again, as I really enjoy the culture and have formed some great relationships over the past ten years.

"Knowing that I would be working with good people I had dealt with in the past made the decision much easier."

Rand's first stint at Nikko started in 2011 and lasted nearly ten years.

Most recently, he was co-portfolio manager of the Yarra Australian Bond Fund.

In 2021 he moved to Yarra Capital after Yarra acquired Nikko's Australian business in a deal that saw it become one of the country's largest independently owned fixed-income and equities managers.

As part of the transaction, Nikko AM took a 20 per cent ownership stake in Yarra Capital.

Earlier in his career, Rands worked at Moody's Investors Service as an analyst in its structured finance business.