The French global asset management firm, Amundi, has recruited Nicholas Melhuish as head of global equity. Based in its London branch, Melhuish will be responsible for developing Amundi’s global equity management strategies and capability.

Melhuish has more than 20 years experience from the financial services industry. He joins Amundi from UBS Global Asset Management where he was head of global equities, and before that, he was lead portfolio manager responsible for global equity strategies in San Diego, California, and London at Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management.

“Using his wide experience in the asset management business, he will take the leadership in the global equity field with regard to both developing Amundi’s current range of strategies and driving initiatives in innovative solutions,” Romain Boscher, the global head of equity at Amundi, said in a statement.

Recently, the investment venture created by French banks Crédit Agricole and Societe Generale has sought to upgrade their London-based management team. Last week, Amundi appointed Mark Miller as head of UK institutional and Jerry Devlin as head of UK distribution.

Amundi is the second-largest asset management firm in Europe with almost €750 billion ($979 billion) in assets under management, as of March 2013.