Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd. (Nikko AM) announced the appointment of John F. Vail as head of the Investment Strategy Group. Vail will report to Bill Wilder, Nikko AM’s president and CIO.
Vail will have full responsibility for producing macroeconomic analysis and thematic strategy reports for internal and external use. He will chair the Global Investment Committee, a council consisting of Nikko AM’s global investment directors, and further develop the asset allocation practice. His Investment Strategy Group will also assist the product development team by identifying new, important investment themes.
Vail brings the firm more than 20 years of investment experience. He spent a decade as an Asian equity/convertible bond portfolio manager, mostly with Fidelity Investments Asia, acting as a pioneer in the region’s emerging markets. He lived in Japan and managed Japanese equities from 1988 to 1992. His career path also includes four years covering global markets as Chief Strategist at Mizuho Securities USA. Most recently, he was the Chief Japanese Equity Strategist for JPMorgan Securities in Tokyo.
Wilder said, “We are very pleased to have John on board. He brings us extensive experience and deep insight into the global economy and market fundamentals for all major asset classes. We are confident that he will further enhance Nikko AM’s overall investment success.”