Fiera Capital has hired John Cappetta as managing director, head of Asia excluding Japan and Korea. He has over 34 years’ experience, most recently as head of private banking and Asia advisor to global investment manager Ninety One.
Previously, he was managing director, senior adviser to Julius Baer where he was based in the bank’s Singapore office for six years, and head of mutual fund sales Asia for Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Other roles include stretches at Van Hedge Funds, Safra Asset Management, and Merrill Lynch where Cappetta initially developed his sell-side Apac specialism.
Cappetta (pictured) will be based in Singapore and report to Rob Petty, executive director & CEO, Fiera Capital Asia, and will build on the existing Asia team’s business and 23-year history in Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea.
The company’s decision to expand its offering in Asia follows the recent appointment of C.J. Morrell, head of Japan, who also began his career at Merrill Lynch before roles with JP Morgan and latterly Sloane Robinson Asset Management, according to a statement by Fiera Capital.
The addition of Cappetta to Fiera’s capability in Asia also supports the rollout of Fiera’s decentralised distribution model, with the company seeking to service its institutional, wholesale and financial intermediary clients in Asia directly, the statement added.
“The region’s distinct appetite and preference for highly customisable investment solutions requires a personal connection to core markets, and as we expand our offer to investors in Asia at all tiers it will be this nuanced appreciation for what motivates investment decision-making that sets apart our public and private market strategies and active management approach”, said Petty, CEO, Fiera Capital, Asia.
Private alternatives remain a principal focus for Fiera Capital Asia with unleveraged, income generating private credit serving as its cornerstone strategy.
These strategies sit alongside Fiera’s offering of specialist alternatives, including infrastructure, direct real estate, agriculture and its newly introduced Global Timberland strategy, and the company’s equity suite that includes Small-Mid Cap (SMID) Growth, Fiera OAKS EM Select, Canadian Equity and Fiera Atlas Global Companies.
Cappetta, commented: “Investors in Asia are increasingly seeking new opportunities in alternative assets, such as private credit, real assets, and private equity. Fiera Capital’s robust presence across both private and public markets provides us with the ability to offer tailored solutions to meet client needs.”
Cappetta’s appointment is the latest in a series of hires to broaden Fiera’s global expansion with the Company announcing the opening of dedicated regional offices in Zurich, The Hague and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in 2024.
Headquartered in Montreal, Fiera Capital has $116.1bn AUM as at 30th June 2024, and has offices in over a dozen cities around the world, including New York, London and Hong Kong.
