Global asset manager Franklin Templeton Investments expands its alternatives offering in Asia by creating a new lead role.

Franklin Templeton Investments, the US-headquartered international investment firm, has named a financial services veteran to the newly-created position of head of alternative sales in Asia. 

Scott Collison brings over 20 years of industry experience to his new Singapore-based role, where he will be working closely with existing regional and country institutional and retail distribution teams to support the firm's alternative products offering in Asia. Before this appointment, Collison was the chief executive of Talos Strategies, an advisory business that worked with both traditional ad alternative asset managers. Collison was also the founder of Orent Fund, the Asian hedge fund established in 2011, and served as portfolio manager at Millenium Partners in Singapore.

In his new post, he reports to Mark Browning, managing director for Asia. 

"We see growing interest in alternative products from both Asian institutions and high net worth individuals. Investor appetite for alternatives investments is warming up across the regions," said Browning in a statement.

Franklin Templeton's alternative investment offerings include K2 Advisors, Templeton Emerging Markets Group, Franklin Templeton Real Asset Advisors, Pelagos Capital Management and Franklin Templeton Fixed Income. The company manages some $880 billion in assets worldwide.