MA Financial looks to grow Asia presence with senior sales hire

Alternative investment specialist, MA Financial Group, has signalled its renewed focus on growing its Asia business with the appointment of Kit Toh as Head of Asian Distribution.

The firm said that while it has “actively” offered investment solutions to Asian investors for more than 10 years, the appointment was the next logical step in growing its presence across the Asian market after expanding its office located in Singapore.

Taking on the new role as of January this year, Toh is responsible for working with institutional and wealth clients in the Asian region and enhancing the manager’s suite of alternative investment opportunities. She is assisted by Aidan McCluskey and Kelly Low in Singapore and Jimmy Fong in Hong Kong.

Toh’s appointment also comes in the wake of the firm’s heightened activity in the region, including the launch of the MA Credit Income Trust and a AUD $1 billion deal inked last year with private equity giant Warburg Pincus to launch a real estate credit solution.

“Kit Toh’s appointment to Head of Asian Distribution, where she will progress our capital strategy in the region, signifies the growing demand for Australian private credit and alternative real estate investments in Asia,” Andrew Martin, MA Financial’s Head of Asset Management, said.

“This has been highlighted through our recent billion-dollar deal with Warburg Pincus.”

“We have been successfully operating in Asia for over a decade managing funds for local investors, with offices and executives spanning all the major financial cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai.”

“The appointment of Ms. Toh is a critical step towards building out our investment and distribution capabilities and highlights our continued commitment to the region and our ambition to expand our offerings within Asia.”

Toh brings over two decades of asset management experience and expertise to the role at MA Financial, having previously worked with with institutional investors and intermediary clients in Asia and North America across public and private markets. Toh’s previously roles include Head of Asia Pacific at private equity investing platform, Moonfare, and other senior positions at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, JPMorgan Asset
Management and Capital Group.

“Asia is one of the fastest growing global wealth regions, with unprecedented investor demand in the alternative assets sector,” she said.

“I am excited to leverage MA Financial’s long-standing presence in the Asian market and standout capability in the alternative asset space, helping to drive the conversation surrounding private credit and alternative real estate in Singapore and beyond.”