BNY Mellon appoints Mark Speciale as Asia-Pacific Head of Institutional Distribution

HONG KONG, July 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BNY Mellon, the global leader in investment management and investment services, has appointed Mark Speciale as Asia-Pacific (APAC) Head of Institutional Distribution within its investment management business.

In this new role, Speciale is responsible for developing and managing the build out of the company's APAC institutional sales strategy, client relationship management and consultant engagement, as BNY Mellon continues to develop client-focused strategies and solutions to meet the changing needs of institutional investors in the region. His focus is on strengthening existing and building new partnerships with institutional investors including sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and insurance companies.

Based in Singapore, Speciale reports into Alan Harden, Chief Executive Officer for BNY Mellon's APAC investment management business, and to PeterPaul Pardi, BNY Mellon's Head of Global Distribution for investment management, based in London. Speciale joins BNY Mellon's APAC Investment Management Executive Committee and BNY Mellon's APAC Operating Committee.

"Mark has an outstanding reputation and an acute awareness of the needs and issues facing Asian institutional investors, having worked with some of the largest and most sophisticated institutions in the region for many years," said BNY Mellon's Pardi. "His experience and counsel will be invaluable to the clients we serve, and to the firm as a whole, as we continue to build out a world-class investment management business focused on the needs of Asian investors."

Explaining why BNY Mellon has created this new role, Harden stated that to be regarded as one of the premier investment management firms in APAC, it is critical that BNY Mellon excels in institutional solutions, relationships and client service. 

"Asian institutional investors are increasingly looking to investment managers to prove that they truly have a deep understanding of their needs, and provide real solutions to their problems," observed Harden. "The winners in the region are going to be those who are closest to their clients and are focused on solutions, rather than just pushing products. This is why we view this new head of institutional distribution position as essential to our success."

Harden continued: "We have a significant and successful institutional business in Asia, which is testament to the quality of the relationships we have built with key clients, and the investment strategies that our multi-boutique model can offer. Mark's role will be to elevate this to the next level through engaging in meaningful conversations with Asian institutional investors and collaborating with our local teams and investment boutiques around the world to ensure we are developing and delivering bespoke solutions which meet their evolving needs."

Speciale's financial services career spans over 25 years, principally in business development and client service in investment management and capital markets, and he joins BNY Mellon from Capital International where he was most recently Senior Vice President, Head of Sales and Client Service, Asia-Pacific ex Japan, based in Singapore. His career started in the United States and after 11 years at various firms, he moved to Singapore in 1997 with Fischer Francis Trees & Watts to lead their business development efforts in Asia ex-Japan, before moving to Capital International in 2000.

BNY Mellon Investment Management is one of the world's leading investment management organizations and one of the top U.S. wealth managers, with $1.4 trillion in assets under management as at 31 March 2013. It encompasses BNY Mellon's affiliated investment management firms, wealth management services and global distribution companies. More information can be found at www.bnymellon.com

BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment management and investment services in 36 countries and more than 100 markets. As of March 31, 2013, BNY Mellon had $26.3 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $1.4 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com, or follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon

This press release is qualified for issuance in Hong Kong and is for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer or solicitation of securities or investment services or an endorsement thereof in any jurisdiction or in any circumstance in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful or not authorised. Principal place of business of BNY Mellon Asset Management Hong Kong Limited: Level 18, Three Pacific Place, 1 Queen's Road East, Hong Kong. Authorised and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission. A BNY Mellon Company^SM

SOURCE BNY Mellon