Standard Life adds to global fixed income capability

Standard Life Investments, the global fund manager, has enhanced its ability to deliver global credit management with the appointment of Christopher Heckscher as Senior Vice President, US Credit.
Christopher joins from Wellington Management where he covered a broad set of sectors within US Investment Grade and High Yield for over 14 years. Based in Standard Life Investments' Boston office, Christopher will report to Erlend Lochen, Head of US Credit and Global Head of High Yield.

He will be responsible for covering US High Yield and will work with the US Equities team to broaden coverage of US investment grade issuers.

This is the first appointment since Erlend Lochen was charged with extending Standard Life Investments' European High Yield process into a global offering. Erlend, who relocated from Edinburgh to Boston in July of this year, retains joint responsibility for the Higher Income Fund OEIC in the UK and the European High Yield SICAV in Europe, co-managing both funds alongside Arthur Milson, Investment Director - High Yield.

Standard Life Investments has a strong track record in managing funds across a diverse range of fixed income markets. It manages $87.7bn (D62.6bn, £53.3bn) in bonds around the world (as at 30.06.09).

Erlend Lochen, Head of US Credit and Global Head of High Yield, Standard Life Investments, said:

"As our first credit hire in the US, Christopher brings a great deal of experience in the US credit markets - both in High Yield and Investment Grade - and will provide local knowledge and insights as we seek to build our US team further."

Andrew Sutherland, Head of Credit and Aggregate Funds, Standard Life Investments, said: "Our team continues to evolve from one that was predominantly focused on the UK market a few years ago to one that can compete internationally. Already we have a corporate bond proposition that is extremely competitive and successful in the Euro credit markets. With Erlend responsible for replicating our successful pan-European corporate bond process in Boston, Christopher will play an important role in helping us deliver a global credit solution"