PIMCO, one of the world’s premier fixed income investment managers, has made a new hire in its Sydney office.

PIMCO, one of the world’s premier fixed income investment managers, has appointed Samuel Watkins as executive vice president, head of business, Australia and New Zealand.

Starting his role this week in PIMCO’s Sydney office, he will work with Rob Mead, head of PIMCO Australia and co-head of APAC Portfolio Management to lead the growth strategy in Australia. He will also partner with Eric Frerer, head of institutional account management and Brendon Rodda, head of distribution, global wealth management. Watkins will have local oversight of business management functions, reporting to Alec Kersman, head of Asia-Pacific who is based in Hong Kong.

Prior to joining PIMCO, Watkins worked at Goldman Sachs from 2014 to 2022, where he was managing director and head of equity finance product, Asia-Pacific, responsible for marketing, distribution, development and structuring of equity finance products for the region. Previously, he worked at Deutsche Bank AG, Credit Suisse AG and Macquarie Bank in Australia holding various positions in their equities and derivatives businesses. Watkins, who has over 20 years of investment and financial services experience, holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Sydney.

Welcoming him to the firm, Alec Kersman, head of Asia-Pacific said: “He joins our team with extensive regional experience, proven strategic leadership and deep cross-asset capabilities built over his successful 20+ year career in the finance industry.”

PIMCO manages assets from central banks, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, corporations, foundations, endowments and individual investors across the world, with $2 trillion assets under management as of 31 March 2022.