Alquity Investment Management, which operates in markets such as Africa, has taken a tilt at the Latin American market by hiring Roberto Lampl as head of investment in the region.

Alquity Investment Management, which operates in markets such as Africa, has taken a tilt at the Latin American market by hiring Roberto Lampl as head of investment in the region.

Lampl previously worked at Baring Asset Management where he spent three years heading its emerging market and Latin American equity teams. Prior to this, he was a senior investment manager at ING Investment Management where he was portfolio manager of the ING L Invest Latin America Equity Fund, as well as co-portfolio manager of several other funds.

The firm said its latest expansion comes in a year in which Alquity has logged a 130 per cent rise in total assets under management, with returns due to hit double-digit levels by the end of 2013.

Part of its business model is that Alquity donates at least 25 per cent of its fee income at projects to combat poverty in Africa.

“Remaining loyal to our core values, our future products will target sustainable investments in markets where we are confident of achieving the quality of returns that our investors are looking for, while also allowing us to make a meaningful impact on the local economies via microfinance initiatives,” Paul Robinson, chief executive of Alquity, said in a statement.

Alquity Investment Management (Alquity) is part of the Alquity Group. It has $99 million ($56 million in Africa Fund) of assets under management.