US equity boutique opens Australian office



Florida-based active equity manager, GQG Partners has announced the opening of its Australian office which will be headed by Laird Abernethy who has been appointed as managing director for Australia and New Zealand.
The firm said that it’d had strong Australian connections even prior to opening an Australian office due to its partnership with Pacific Current Group (PAC) which was instrumental in the development of GQG’s institutional business across Australia and New Zealand and, additionally, provided the firm with strategic distribution and capital.
The partnership also resulted in establishing its local client base which, at that point, included over 20 clients and assets under management exceeding A$2.7 billion.
Abernethy said that in his new role he would further focus on developing and servicing GQG’s institutional business in Australia and would lead the development of the wholesale market.
Prior to joining GQG, Laird was head of investment sales at Colonial First State. He also worked previously at Russell Investments and BT Financial Group.
PAC said it would continue to work with GQG in Australia during the transition period until the end of May, 2019.
GQG Partners’ chief executive, Tim Carver, said: “We have recognised the importance of Australia as a key market for GQG Partners since launching the business in 2016.
“We are determined to demonstrate and expand our commitment to this important market as Laird builds out his team for Australia and the region.”
GQG is an active equity manager managing global, emerging markets, global ex United States strategies, with offices in Florida, Seattle and New York, and currently manages discretionary and advisory assets of circa A$22 billion for clients globally.
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