MutualFundWire.com: Matthews Taps a New CEO
MutualFundWire.com
   The insiders' edge for 40 Act industry executives!
an InvestmentWires' Publication
Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Matthews Taps a New CEO


Matthews International Capital Management, LLC appointed William J. Hackett as its new CEO, succeeding Mark Headley, who now steps into the role of chairman. Hackett served as president of Matthews since 2007, and will now oversee all areas of the firm except investment management. He will specifically be responsible for leading the expansion of the company's fund distribution and client service efforts. Hackett served as a partner with the global management practice of Deloitte & Touche prior to joining Matthews.

Matthews also named Robert J. Horrocks as CIO. He takes over from acting CIO Andrew Foster, and will oversee the firm's investment process and professionals and also set the research agenda for the team. Horrocks also serves as the co-manager of the Matthews Asian Growth and Income Fund. Horrocks joined Matthews as director of research in 2008, prior to which he served as head of research at Mirae Asset Management in Hong Kong.




Matthews International Capital Management Names New CEO and CIO

SAN FRANCISCO--Matthews International Capital Management, LLC (“Matthews”), advisor to the Matthews Asia Funds, has announced that William J. Hackett has been named the firm’s Chief Executive Officer and Robert J. Horrocks, PhD has been appointed Chief Investment Officer.

Chief Executive Officer

Bill Hackett has served as President of Matthews since 2007 and now as Chief Executive Officer will oversee all areas of the firm, with the exception of investment management. Specifically, he will lead the expansion and enhancement of the company’s fund distribution and client service efforts and continue to direct Matthews’ operations and administration. Mark W. Headley was previously the firm’s Chief Executive Officer and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and a Portfolio Manager at Matthews. “Bill brings extensive experience in global financial markets and proven leadership skills to this role,” said Headley. “I look forward to continuing to work with Bill to develop and enhance Matthews’ position as a leader in Asian asset management.”

Prior to joining Matthews in 2007, Bill was a partner with the global investment management practice of Deloitte & Touche, LLP, where he worked for over 16 years in various capacities and global offices. Most recently, Bill managed the firm’s U.S. Pacific Southwest investment management practice, following four years leading Deloitte’s Asia Pacific investment management practice in Tokyo. In Tokyo, he was responsible for regional oversight and worked with the firm’s major Asia Pacific offices, including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. Prior to that, he spent three years in the firm’s Luxembourg office, where he oversaw the audits of several major investment management clients. He joined Deloitte & Touche in New York in 1990. Bill received his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Scranton.

Chief Investment Officer

Robert Horrocks served as Matthews’ Director of Research since joining the firm in August 2008. As Chief Investment Officer, he will oversee the firm’s investment process and investment professionals and set the research agenda for the investment team. Robert is also Co-Manager of the Matthews Asian Growth and Income Fund.

Before joining Matthews, Robert was Head of Research at Mirae Asset Management in Hong Kong. From 2003 to 2006, Robert served as Chief Investment Officer for Everbright Pramerica in China. He started his career as a Research Analyst with WI Carr Securities in Hong Kong before moving on to spend eight years working in several different Asian jurisdictions for Schroders, including stints as Country General Manager in Taiwan, Deputy Chief Investment Officer in Korea and Designated Chief Investment Officer in Shanghai. Robert earned his PhD in Chinese Economic History from Leeds University in the United Kingdom.

“Robert brings tremendous Asian investment experience and expertise to Matthews,” said Mark Headley. “Since joining Matthews last year, Robert has been instrumental in advancing our bottom-up research efforts and is a great champion of our long-term approach to investing in Asia. I believe that our fund shareholders and clients will be well served with Robert in this new role.”

Since January 2008, Andrew Foster served as Matthews’ acting Chief Investment Officer. Robert’s appointment as Chief Investment Officer enables Andrew to focus on his primary role as Portfolio Manager. Andrew is Lead Manager of the Matthews Asian Growth and Income Fund and Co-Manager of the Matthews Asia Pacific Equity Income, Matthews China, and Matthews India Funds. “During his tenure as acting Chief Investment Officer, Andrew helped navigate Matthews and our investment team through some of modern history’s most challenging financial conditions,” stated Headley. “We are grateful to Andrew for stepping in to fill this role when needed.”

About Matthews

At Matthews, we believe in the long-term growth of Asia. Since 1991, we have focused our efforts and expertise exclusively within the region, investing through a variety of market environments. As an independent, privately owned firm, Matthews is the largest dedicated Asia-only investment specialist in the United States. Our investment offerings provide a broad range of choices for building a global portfolio that includes exposure to one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. With $6.7 billion in assets under management as of May 31, 2009, Matthews employs a bottom-up, fundamental investment philosophy, with a focus on long-term investment performance. For more information please visit matthewsasia.com.


Printed from: MFWire.com/story.asp?s=21949

Copyright 2009, InvestmentWires, Inc.
All Rights Reserved