Natixis Global Asset Management, the France and US-headquartered asset manager, has strengthened its Singapore office with a senior appointment.

Madeline Ho joins the firm as head of wholesale distribution for Asia-Pacific and managing director of NGAM Singapore. She was previously the regional head of South East Asia at Fidelity Worldwide Investment and before that served as Singapore country head for Franklin Templeton Investments.

Ho's appointment is part of the company's ongoing expansion plans in the region and comes just over a month after Natixis opened in Hong Kong, its fifth branch in Asia-Pacific. Her experience, particularly in dealing with retail and high net worth investors, is expected to help the firm further grow its client base.

Natixis Global Asset Management manages some $734 billion in assets globally as of the end of Q3 2012 and has at least 3,000 staff. Its Asian presence is composed of offices in Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei and Beijing.