Morrison appoints co-heads and CIO

Morrison & Co has named Peter Coman and Geoff Hutchinson as co-heads of the firm's Australia and New Zealand operations.

Hutchinson joined Morrison & Co after 14 years at Pacific Equity Partners, where he was a managing director and led investments across a range of industries including healthcare, education, and business services.

He is an experienced board director for both private and listed firms.

Meanwhile, Coman joined the company in 2008 and has overseen a broad range of infrastructure investments in Australia and New Zealand in the social infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare, and transport sectors.

He is currently chair of RetireAustralia, Pacific Radiology Group, Wellington International Airport, and a director of NZX-listed Trustpower.

"Our Australasian portfolios form the bedrock on which our global expansion is being built," said Paul Newfield, the firm's incoming chief executive.

"Over almost three decades, we have built an outstanding track record in this region, and I'm delighted to have such high calibre investment professionals leading the investment team in our home markets."

Meanwhile, the global infrastructure investment management specialist has also appointed William Smales as investment chief.

Smales joined the firm in 2013 and moved to New York in August this year, reaffirming its commitment to its international growth strategy.

Since September, Morrison & Co has beefed up its investment team by hiring 17 new team members across key locations.

These include Perry Offutt as head of North America, Grace Tang as investment director, joining from QIC Global Infrastructure, and Ankit Mehta as investment director, who joined from the Future Fund.

Finally, Nicole Walker, the firm's chief commercial officer will relocate to Singapore to lead global client activities, expanding and diversifying investor relationships.

Morrison & Co manages multiple client mandates with total funds under management of approximately $21 billion.