State Street Global Advisors announced four appointments for its SPDR ETFs business in Asia Pacific. Kathleen Gallagher has been appointed as head of SPDR ETFs Australia, in addition to her current role as head of ETF Model Portfolios Asia Pacific and EMEA; Marie Tsang has joined as a SPDR fixed income strategist for Asia Pacific; Jean Gan has joined as a SPDR fixed income sales specialist for Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia; and Robin Tsui has expanded his role to Asia Pacific gold strategist and gold sales specialist for Hong Kong.
All four report to Meaghan Victor, head of SPDR ETFs Asia Pacific Distribution at State Street Global Advisors, who is based in Sydney. “Our SPDR ETFs business in Asia Pacific is one of State Street Global Advisors’ priorities and we are delighted to continue to invest in more top talent and resources and demonstrate our commitment to the region,” said Victor. “Kathleen and Robin’s expanded roles, alongside the two newly created roles of SPDR fixed income strategist and SPDR fixed income sales specialist, reflect our commitment to meeting the increasing demand from our clients and strengthening our capabilities in the fixed income market in the region.”
Relocating from the UK to Sydney, Gallagher was most recently the head of ETF Model Portfolios EMEA and Asia Pacific at SPDR ETFs of State Street Global Advisors. In her expanded role, Gallagher will lead, manage and develop the SPDR ETFs business in Australia as well as the ETF Model Portfolio business in Asia Pacific and EMEA across all channels, including asset owners, asset managers and financial intermediaries.
“The Australian ETF market has grown five-fold in the last five years to hit A$122.78 billion, with even conservative estimates putting it on track to double again by 2024, added Gallagher. “We are committed to strengthening our relationships with clients and continuing to grow our SPDR ETFs business in Australia, and indeed the entire Asia Pacific, and leveraging our local knowhow and global capabilities to provide investors with a comprehensive suite of investment solutions that meet their evolving needs.”
The two fixed income appointments are both newly created roles. Tsang joins State Street Global Advisors from BlackRock, where she was most recently the senior investment strategist for BlackRock Portfolio Analysis and Solutions. Gan joins State Street Global Advisors from MUFG Securities, where she was most recently the director for institutional investor sales.
“The addition of these fixed income roles will champion the strategic growth of SPDR’s fixed income products and strategies in the region,” said Victor. “With declining US Treasury yields, the yield pickup of Asian bonds has become very attractive to investors. With their extensive experience and knowledge in the industry, Kathleen, Marie, Jean and Robin are uniquely positioned to build on the continued success of the SPDR ETFs business in the region, and to achieve SPDR fixed income net new assets and revenue growth in Asia Pacific in particular.”
