Fund management: global perspective sought

Global fund managers are top of the hiring agenda in 2006, says Iraj Ispahani, a consultant in the London asset management practice of search firm Korn/Ferry International.

"There is a definite emphasis on global investments," says Ispahani. "We are looking for managers to work with global equity funds and global aggregate [fixed income] funds."

The global impetus is client-driven according to Ispahani: "Clients expect to see the best investment opportunities and large agile fund managers are best placed to deal with that."

Sarasin Chiswell, the London-based fund manager formed in 2004 from the merger between Chiswell Associates and Sarasin Investment Management, is among those boosting its global capabilities. Earlier this week, it announced the recruitment of Graham Ashby from DWS to run global and UK equity income funds.

Ispahani says most global fund managers have a background in US investing: "Typically, people have started on US equities and then moved to also look at the European markets."