The director of UK fund distribution will report to the global head of wealth advisory services.

Global boutique asset manager Principal Global Investors has appointed Alan Glendon as director of UK fund distribution.

Glendon will be responsible for building and strengthening relationships between Principal and private banks, wealth managers, family offices and brokers in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, the firm said in a statement earlier in the week.

He will report to global head of wealth advisory services Nick Lyster. 

The new director of UK fund distribution has over 17 years’ experience in asset management with a focus on wealth management. Glendon has joined the firm from Janus Capital, where he was sales director, responsible for the firm’s strategic direction and sales management.

“The UK, Ireland and Channel Islands is a key region for wealth management services and represents a critical market for our funds platform,” said Lyster. “We are seeing increasing interest in our funds from wealth managers in the UK and Ireland, and Alan will undoubtedly help us to strengthen our existing relationships in the wholesale space.”

This appointment follows the hire of Martin Bloch as country head and head of sales in Switzerland for Principal’s recently opened Zurich office.

Principal, as of 31 March 2017, had $424.4 billion in assets under management.