Russell Investments appoints APAC head

Russell Investments has appointed Jason Edgar as its new head of Asia-Pacific, based in Sydney. 

Edgar joined Russell in May 2023 as a director of corporate development based in Seattle and has now relocated to Sydney for the APAC role. 

Russell flagged that Edgar has experience working in the APAC region, having spent four years working in Hong Kong with MetLife as a head of strategy and growth partnerships, Asia, out of a nine-year career with the business. 

He also spent seven years as a legislative director in the US House of Representatives. 

In the new role, he will report to chairman and chief executive Zach Buchwald and be responsible for leveraging the firm’s wide array of investment capabilities and expertise to fully benefit clients.

Edgar succeeds Pete Gunning who was appointed as head of APAC at the end of October 2023 following the departure of Jodie Hampshire. 

Gunning has worked at Russell for 28 years and previously held the APAC role for eight years until October 2021 when he was replaced by Hampshire. Upon Hampshire’s departure, he resumed the role in October 2023 but has since stepped down.

He will remain at Russell, however, and now focus on his role as vice chairman, which he has held since 2021, and work with Edgar on strategic relationships across the APAC region. 

Buchwald said: “Jason’s extensive experience in the APAC markets and deep understanding of our strategy uniquely position him to steer our initiatives in the region. We’re very happy he’s taking the helm to develop and execute on our ambitious strategy to engage clients and prospects throughout the APAC region.”

Tim Furlan will remain in the role of managing director for Australia and New Zealand.

Hampshire, who worked at Russell for 17 years in Sydney and London, has since taken up a role as a non-executive director at Insignia Financial.

Insignia chair, Allan Griffiths, said: “Jodie brings significant and practical C-suite experience to the board following an extensive career in the financial services sector. We are delighted to have Jodie join the board and look forward to her contribution.”