The asset management arm of New York-listed State Street Corporation has created a new core beta research position in the UK.

State Street Global Advisors has hired Julian Harding from Legal & General as managing director and global head of core beta research.

Harding previously worked at Legal & General Investment Management, where he was director, responsible for the index equity and fixed income portfolio management teams. He has 20 years of industry experience, having also held positions at First Quadrant, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Prolific Objective Asset Management.

Based in London, Harding will report to Richard Hannam, SSGA's head of global equity beta solutions for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“His appointment brings a depth of knowledge which will further develop our offering in the equity indexing market,” said Hannam.

SSGA, a prominent player in the market for exchange-traded funds, had $2.24 trillion in assets under management as of the end of 2015.