Dunn jumps into senior national role at Principal Asset

Former institutional sales executive at BlackRock, Stuart Dunn, has been appointed Principal Asset Management’s new Director of Distribution for Australia.

Dunn brings close to three decades of experience in the banking and finance industry, and his appointment comes as the firm looks to cement its existing presence in the institutional market and develop further relationships in the domestic wholesale market, along with the growth of its emerging market debt (EMD) solution.

Dunn, who commenced in the role from 12 August, will spearhead Principal Asset Management’s distribution activities in Australia, leading both sales and client services teams.

“Stuart’s deep expertise and proven leadership in the wholesale market make him an outstanding choice to drive our ongoing expansion locally. In addition, his understanding of the complex needs of institutional investors will be instrumental in delivering tailored solutions that align with our clients’ goals,” Helen de Mestre, Managing Director and Country Head Australia & New Zealand at Principal Asset
Management, said.

“As we continue to broaden our presence in Australia, Stuart’s role will be crucial in not only strengthening our distribution capabilities but also in fostering deeper relationships with our clients. His appointment underscores our commitment to bringing the global strength of Principal Asset Management to serve the evolving needs of Australian investors.”

de Mestre also highlighted the recent launches of the Finisterre Emerging Markets Debt Total Return Strategy for Australian wholesale investors and its new private infrastructure debt solution as key focuses for Dunn and his new teams.

“Another key area of focus for Stuart will be meeting the growing demand for investment opportunities in data centres, where Principal has a long-standing presence.

“With more than 14 years of experience in the data centre sector, Principal is well-positioned to capitalise on the expected surge in data storage demand driven by advancements in artificial intelligence,” she said.