State Street Global Advisors has brought back Lochiel Crafter into the company as Asia Pacific head of investments, he having left the US firm two years ago.

Crafter had been Asia Pacific chief investment officer at SSGA in Singapore until 2008, after which he joined the Australian Award Investment Alliance in Sydney as its chief executive officer. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the regional investment teams, with a focus on client interaction. He will also manage a team of portfolio managers, researchers, and strategists in Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo.

"The difference is that this new role is a bit broader, with additional business responsibilities and focus. I think as we have grown in the region and we see Asia Pacific continue to grow and develop, we want to reach out and make sure we cover our clients on the investments side," said Kelly Driscoll, senior managing director for Asia ex-Japan.

Crafter will be based in Sydney, but will be travelling frequently around the region.

SSGA, the asset management unit of State Street Corporation, has almost 200 staff in the Asia Pacific region, a fourth of which are in Hong Kong and Singapore.