Baring Asset Management, the global investment management firm, has created a new senior role for its Asia business.

Effective immediately, Eric Lee takes up the new post of chief financial officer for Asia, responsible for the firm's finance functions in the region. Based in Hong Kong, Lee reports jointly to Julian Swayne, chief financial officer of Barings, and Gerry Ng, CEO of Baring Asset Management (Asia). He was previously the finance controller for Asia ex-Japan at BlackRock and prior to that served as senior finance manager at Value Partners.

The expanded senior team complements the establishment of Barings Korea early this year through the acquisition of SEI Asset Korea. Baring Asset Management, part of US-based financial services organisation MassMutual Financial Group, continues to grow its Asian presence and has offices in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.