Mr Chen joins the firm from Vanguard Investments, where his main responsibility was institutional business development in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Prior to this role, he worked for Watson Wyatt Worldwide.

Mr Chen will join Martin Currie on 28 October. Based in Singapore, he will be responsible for client service and business development in Asia, reporting to Kimon Kouryialas, regional head for Pan Asia. 

Martin Currie has been engaged on an Asian expansion drive for several years, a significant step in which was the August 2008 opening of its Australia office; Melbourne will be used as the base for management of the firm’s Asian expansion drive.

Local Australian and Asian offices are part of a strategy to service clients locally and this appointment demonstrates the company’s level of commitment to the region, Martin Currie said in a statement.

"Martin Currie has been investing in Asia since the 1920s and over 40 per cent of our total funds under management are invested in the region. As such we have a long history in the market and this new appointment has been created to help us continue our progress," said Mr Kouryialas.