Asset manager AllianceBernstein has appointed Ross Kent as chief executive of AllianceBernstein Australia.

Kent was a senior managing director institutional relationships with the company, leading AllianceBernstein's marketing effort in Australia and New Zealand since December 2006.

He has also worked as the company's general manager for New Zealand and, prior to joining the company in 2004, he was managing director for AMP Financial Services in New Zealand.

In August last year, AllianceBernstein chief executive for Australia and New Zealand Michael Bargholtz resigned, five months after AllianceBernstein bought out joint venture partner Axa Asia Pacific 50 per cent stake in the business.

The joint venture was dissolved last year when Axa was acquired by AMP.

Kent's responsibilities will also include New Zealand, a spokesperson for the firm said.

"Making our most senior role in the country a client-facing position reflects our philosophy of putting clients' needs first and foremost," AllianceBernstein global head of client group Bob Keith said.

"We believe the arrangement works strongly to our clients' advantage," he said.

Alliance Bernstein also confirmed that senior portfolio manager of the Bernstein Value Equities strategy James Crawford will depart the firm.

He will leave at the end of April, a spokesperson for the company confirmed.

AllianceBernstein had a rough ride in Australia recently. Last month, it lost a multi-billion dollar fixed income mandate from AMP Capital, which opted to manage the money in-house following the merger with Axa.

Earlier in March, the company closed five equity and growth strategies after the funds had failed to attract any client money.

But Kent said on Friday that, following the move to full ownership by AllianceBernstein and 'some targeted realignment of resources', the company was positioned for a new phase of growth.