All four of the new appointees were formerly investment directors on Swips’s global emerging markets desk and have now been named portfolio managers at Martin Currie. The combined team of six has worked together for a number of years, managing some £2.2 billion ($3.3 billion) for a range of institutional and wealth management clients, and their recruitment completes Martin Currie’s drive to establish a global emerging markets team, the firm said in a statement.

Ness manages the GEM Sustainability portfolios and as sector analyst he is responsible for stocks across the GEM financials sector.

Casson is lead manager of Latin American strategy, along with supporting Reynolds in the management of the GEM Smaller Companies strategy. In his capacity as sector analyst he is responsible for telecoms and consumer sector stocks.

Mathur is lead manager on the GEM core mandates and is responsible for stocks across the GEM energy sector as sector analyst.

Zaidi is lead manager of the GEM Shariah mandates and co-manages the balanced GEM mandates. He is responsible for stocks within the industrials and materials sectors analysis.

“We have made it clear that we want to build a globally competitive emerging market capability. By first hiring Kim Catechis and Alastair Reynolds and now the rest of their team, we have done just that,” said Willie Watt, chief executive of Martin Currie.

“Emerging market equities is an increasingly important asset class – but there is a lack of high calibre teams in the marketplace. Over the last 22 years, Kim Catechis has built a first-rate process and team; we are delighted this capability is now housed at Martin Currie.”