J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) yesterday announced the appointment of Philip Tso as head of Hong Kong institutional business, effective immediately. He reports to Ayaz Ebrahim, head of Hong Kong client and CEO of Singapore, Southeast Asia and India.

Based in Hong Kong, Tso will lead the institutional business, from shaping sales strategy, driving business growth, deepening senior client engagement to further expanding the firm’s presence across the institutional segment, according to a statement by the US asset manager.

Tso’s three-decade career has been focused on the institutional space, spanning strategic asset allocation, customised discretionary and advisory solutions, and senior client engagement with experience advising large and sophisticated asset owners, including pensions, sovereign wealth funds, insurers and government-related entities.

He joins from Allianz Global Investors, where he most recently led the firm’s institutional business for Asia Pacific, and previously for Hong Kong. Earlier in his career, Tso spent more than two decades at Willis Towers Watson, where he began as an actuarial consultant and later led the Hong Kong investment consulting business.

“Institutional assets in Asia Pacific have been growing at a faster rate than in other regions, with Hong Kong remaining a core market for capturing this growth. Asset managers with broad, diversified platforms, comprehensive investment capabilities, strong local presence and trusted client relationships are well positioned to meet the evolving needs of institutional clients,” said Ebrahim.

“Philip’s appointment reflects our ambition to continue growing market share through deeper, broader client engagement and product innovation. His extensive experience across pensions, sovereign wealth funds, insurers and other institutional segments, combined with his strong local network, industry standing and leadership, make him a strong leader to guide our Hong Kong institutional business into its next phase of growth.”