PIMCO, a global investment management firm, has appointed three executives as it expands the range of investment solutions to its clients globally. PIMCO is owned by Allianz, a global insurance conglomerate.
Anne Gudefin and Charles Lahr will join PIMCO as executive vice president and global equities portfolio manager and Neel Kashkari will join the firm as a managing director and head of new investment initiatives.
Ms Gudefin and Mr Lahr will be based in the firm’s London and New York offices, respectively. At PIMCO, they will focus on establishing and managing global equity investment strategies based on a ‘deep value’ style approach. The appointment of Mr Lahr was scheduled on December 7 and Ms Gudefin will begin in early January 2010.
Mr Kashkari will be based in the firm’s Newport Beach office. At PIMCO, he will help direct the firm’s expansion into new investment initiatives, including its equities business. Mr Kashkari will be a senior member of the firm’s executive office and work closely with PIMCO’s portfolio management, business management and client-facing groups.
Ms Gudefin and Mr Lahr come to PIMCO from the mutual series group of Franklin Templeton Investments where they were co-Portfolio Managers for the Franklin Mutual Global Discovery Fund.
Bill Gross, founder and co-CIO at PIMCO, said: “Extending PIMCO’s investment activities into active equities and thus across the capital structure is a logical and natural extension of the firm’s successful investment process. Mr. Kashkari, Ms. Gudefin and Mr. Lahr are exceptional professionals and individuals and we are delighted to have them on board as we continue PIMCO’s multi-year evolution as a complete provider of global investment solutions.”
Joachim Faber, CEO of Allianz Global Investors said: “We welcome the extension of PIMCO’s investment activities which will complement the range of investment solutions provided by Allianz Global Investors.”
