CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, has named Paul Smith as its new chief executive. Smith is currently managing director, APAC and global head, Institutional Partnerships at CFA Institute.

CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, has named Paul Smith as its new chief executive. Smith is currently managing director, Asia-Pacific and global head, institutional partnerships at CFA Institute.

Smith takes over the helm from Dwight Churchill, who was named interim president and CEO in June last year following the tenure of former president and CEO John Rogers.
 
The Institute represents more than 127,000 investment professionals in 147 countries, most of whom are CFA charter holders.

Smith has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the asset management industry, including over 18 years in Asia. He joined Bank of Bermuda in Hong Kong as Asia head of securities services in 1996. After HSBC's acquisition of the bank in 2004, he served as global head of securities services and global head of alternative funds administration based in New York. Before joining CFA Institute in October 2012, Smith was chairman and CEO of Asia Alternative Asset Partners.

The selection comes as CFA Institute continues to broaden its global reach, with a stronger presence planned for both China and India, it said in a statement.

Smith is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and an executive committee member of the Alternative Investment Association, Hong Kong.