US investment manager JP Morgan AM announces senior hire for its Asia funds management business.

JP Morgan Asset Management, the global asset management arm of US bank JP Morgan, has bulked up its Asia Funds Management business with a senior hire.

Travis Spence joins the company as head of the global strategic relationship group for Asia-Pacific ex-Japan, according to a statement. Based in Hong Kong, he will be working with various teams while overseeing the regional and local client relationships in Asia.

Spence has been in Asia for over 17 years and most recently served as the head of global liquidity for Asia-Pacific at JPMAM. He is credited for pioneering six local currency funds and expanding the division across Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney and Shanghai during his term. Prior to JP Morgan, he worked for eight years at Citi in Singapore.

He reports to Jed Laskowitz, the Asia-Pacific chief executive. His old role will be filled by Paula Stibbe, managing director and client portfolio manager, who will relocate from New York to Hong Kong in early 2014.

"It has been gratifying to see the progress in the market position of JP Morgan in Asia-Pacific. The opportunity to offer our investment insights and strategies to more clients in tremendous and this role will crucial to those efforts," said George Gatch, CEO of JPMAM's global funds management business.

JPMAM is one of the largest investment managers in Asia, with a presence in eight countries and over 1,700 employees, including 180 investment professionals.