Northern Trust Global Investments, the asset management arm of Northern Trust, has hired Kai Leifert as head of risk management, and promoted David Blake to director of global fixed income. Both positions are based in London.

In his new role, Mr Leifert will oversee all risk management activities at NTGI across Europe and Asia Pacific. He joins Northern Trust from Credit Suisse Asset Management, where he held a number of senior risk positions over seven years, most recently as head of investment risk management UK.

Mr Blake joined Northern Trust in 2003 as senior portfolio manager, responsible for short duration fixed income management as well as a number of single and multi currency mid and long duration mandates. In his new role, Mr Blake is responsible for the global fixed income team in London.

“Looking into 2009, their skills, talent and experience will help support our goal to continually enhance our investment management capabilities and infrastructure, during these unprecedented times in financial markets,” said chief executive Wayne Bowers of the two appointees. 

Northern Trust Global Investment is a multi-asset class investment manager serving institutional and personal clients worldwide.  With around $575.5 billion in assets under management worldwide, as of 31 December 2008, NTGI offers a range of active, passive and enhanced products, as well as manager-of-managers programmes for alternative and long-only investments.