Alternative investments specialist Blue Sky Funds Management (BSFM) has appointed Daniel Abbink as its head of distribution, a newly-created role.
Abbink is responsible for developing and leading BSFM's sales team, which in 2011 will focus on promoting the firm's alternatives products to the financial planning market.
He was formerly Macquarie Funds Management's Queensland state sales manager. Prior to this, he spent seven years in the sales and distribution team of HFA Asset Management, the last three of which as national sales manager.
"Daniel is an experienced and successful distribution manager and really understands the alternative investment, financial planning and wealth management space," Blue Sky managing director Mark Sowerby said.
"He is currently in the process of looking for state-based distribution business development managers that specifically can handle something that's a bit different."
BSFM planned to hire a business development manager in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, he said.
The firm, with $200 million in funds under management, has capabilities across four areas: private equity, private real estate, water and global macro.
In 2011, BSFM would launch a new water fund, Sowerby said.
"The fund will invest in water rights, which is an asset that has exhibited strong capital gains since the late 1980s," he said.
"It generates a cash yield and historically has had no correlation at all to equity markets. Investors will have exposure to a range of themes, including the global food theme, water scarcity and increasing water prices through urban demand."
Dealer groups including Futuro Financial Services and AMP-owned Hillross are already among the investors in BSFM's products.
