William Blair & Company, the employee-owned investment firm, has appointed Daniel Charles as global head of distribution for its asset management operation, William Blair investment management: a newly created position which he will take up on 10 March.

Mr Charles joins the firm from Janus Capital, where he was executive vice president, responsible for the firm’s global institutional business including sales, client service and consultant relations. He was also a member of its executive committee. In his new role he is charged with expanding William Blair & Company’s institutional, intermediary, and mutual fund businesses and will report to Michelle Seitz, head of investment management. He will also be a member of the firm’s executive committee.

“We have enjoyed a growing global client base and product offering over the past several years and we are committed to attracting and retaining the highest levels of talent to ensure our clients' continued success,” said Ms Seitz.

William Blair & Company offers investment banking, asset management, equity research, institutional and private brokerage, as well as private capital to individual, institutional, and issuing clients. As well as its headquarters in Chicago, it has offices in Boston, London, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Zurich.