Stafford, who will assume her new responsibilities immediately, is a Newport Beach-based managing director of the firm and currently the global head of the consultant relations group. She is expected to relocate to Hong Kong mid-year and will report to Emmanuel Roman, Pimco’s Newport Beach-based CEO, according to a statement from the firm.
Stafford will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for the region and overseeing the institutional and global wealth management businesses, according to a Hong Kong-based Pimco spokeswoman.
Stafford will replace Eric Mogelof, who will be taking up a new role as the firm’s head of US global wealth management business.
Mogelof, who is currently based in Hong Kong, will also assume his responsibilities immediately and will relocate to New York in June, also reporting to Roman.
Stafford has been with the firm for 17 years and held several roles. Before her current role as global head of consultant relations, US institutional sales and alternative marketing groups, she was the firm’s global head of human resources and talent management, head of global sustainability initiatives, a member of the executive office and an account manager in the consultant relations group.
She has also served on Pimco’s executive committee, playing a role in setting the firm’s strategic decision.
The firm managed $1.47trn in assets as of end-December, according to information on the company’s website. In Asia, it has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney.
In 2016, the firm hired around 210 new employees, including around 40 investment professionals across alternatives, client analytics, emerging markets, mortgages, real estate and macroeconomics, the spokeswoman says.
In 2014, Pimco founder Bill Gross abruptly left the firm to join Janus Capital Group.
