According to the firm, the appointment will “further strengthen” its Australian Multi-Asset Investment Solutions (MAIS) offering for wholesale and institutional investors, financial advice groups and investment platforms.
The firm announced that Mr Choudhury will play a leading role in managing abrdn’s Australian multi-asset funds (including the Multi-Asset Real Return Fund and Multi-Asset Income Fund) and its rapidly growing managed accounts capability.
Mr Choudhury’s new gig follows an extensive professional history at State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), where he held a range of portfolio manager roles over a 17-year period in both the UK and Australia, and most recently was State Street’s head of investment strategy & research – Australia.
He will report to Irene Goh, head of multi-asset investment solutions – Asia Pacific, and will be an important member of abrdn’s Asia-Pacific and Global MAIS teams.
Ms Goh said this appointment signifies abrdn’s commitment to the business and clients in Australia, “with Raf driving the growth of abrdn’s multi-asset investment capability locally. He will assume the portfolio lead for the Australian-based portfolios and managed accounts.”
She said the breadth of abrdn’s investment platform across public, alternative and private markets, coupled with digital, sustainability and investment solutions capabilities anchors the firm’s ability to “provide customised cross-asset solutions to meet clients’ complex needs today”.
“Raf will be instrumental in bringing these to the doorstep of our Australian clients and the investing community. We look forward to partnering with our clients in addressing their challenges,” Ms Goh said.
She said that a key element of Raf’s responsibilities will also be contributing investment insights to the broader MAIS teams that should translate into “successful portfolio strategies”.
“With his experience, we look to Raf to deliver valuable and sophisticated analytical research as well as investment strategies to the regional and global investment network.”
Brett Jollie, managing director – Australia, abrdn, hailed the new role as a “great example of abrdn investing in the Australian business”.
“We have listened to our clients and acted to meet their needs,” Mr Jollie said.
“While Raf will be the Multi-Asset business’ point person here in Australia, he will be backed by our large global team of more than 100 MAIS professionals who manage more than $83 billion (US$61 billion) in multi-asset investment strategies.”
He said Mr Choudhury will also play an integral role in the development and further growth of abrdn’s managed account capability.
“abrdn Australia currently has a suite of over 20 separately managed account solutions for financial advice licensees and advisers to tap into, and is a core growth pillar for the Australian business,” Mr Jollie said.
