Vontobel Asset Management’s investment boutique has boosted its absolute return bond team in Zurich.

Harcourt, the Swiss alternative investment business of Vontobel Asset Management, has appointed Deutsche’s Jack Loudon as portfolio manager.

Loudon joins the Zurich team from Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management, where he was a portfolio manager, responsible for the macro strategy and absolute return bond portfolios. He also led investment decisions on rates and currencies. Before this, he worked as portfolio manager at Invesco, where he was responsible for global rates and credit strategies as well as the management of Japanese pension mandates.

In the newly-created role of deputy portfolio manager of the Absolute Return Bond Fund, Loudon will report to Paul Nicholson, who leads the Absolute Return Bond strategy, which manages over SFr1 billion ($1.02 billion) in assets.

“Our Absolute Return Bond strategies are a key pillar of the Harcourt boutique, and we are delighted in welcoming Jack to the investment team,” said the firm's head of alternative investments, Jan Viebig.

“In continuing to develop our capabilities and striving to deliver the highest level of performance, his expertise will further strengthen the investment experience and resources of our team.”