The newly-created role will enable Fiera to increase its focus on the Japanese market during a period of economic reform in the country, the firm said in a statement.

Morrell, who will report to Rob Petty, CEO of Fiera Capital Asia, will build on the existing Asia team’s business and 23-year history in Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea,. The new position supports the rollout of Fiera’s distribution model and follows the recent appointments of Klaus Schuster, CEO of Fiera EMEA, Eric Roberts, CEO of Fiera USA, Maxime Menard, CEO of Fiera Canada and Alain Meyer, managing director, and head of DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the firm added.

Morrell will be responsible for growing Fiera’s presence on the ground and building its existing relationships in the market. With over 30 years of experience in the asset management industry, including spells at Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan and Sloane Robinson Asset Management, Morrell was selected for his knowledge of Japan, Asia, and public equity markets, the firm said.

Priority asset classes for Fiera’s institutional initiatives in Japan will focus on private alternatives, with unleveraged, income-generating private credit a key focus, the firm added. This includes Fiera’s ANZ real estate debt strategy, a stand-out strategy recognised for its performance, as well as Fiera’s Canadian, European and US real estate debt strategies.

Japan also offers a wholesale market for active equity strategies, as individual investors hold $7.2 trillion or 50 per cent of their assets in cash, the firm continued.

Morrell’s appointment is the latest move in Fiera’s expansion with the company announcing the opening of regional offices in Zurich, Switzerland, and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in February 2024. See here for more commentary on Japan as an investment opportunity.