Henderson’s Nick Evans takes role in Australian expansion

Henderson Global Investor’s head of indirect property is moving to Australia to help create an investment management business there.

Nick Evans will support Rob Adams who was recruited from Challenger Funds Management as executive chairman of the newly-launched Australian business in May. Evans and Adams will report to James Darkins, who has strategic responsibility for Henderson in Asia Pacific.

Evans was also fund manager of European fund of funds, the Henderson Indirect Property Fund. His role as head of indirect will be taken on by Henderson’s Patrick Sumner.

Henderson is seeking to expand outside Europe where a majority of its $100bn of assets under management is based. It sees opportunities in Australia, one of the biggest investment markets in the world and already has links there through a dual listing from the days when the business was owned by AMP. Some 60% of shareholders are Australian.

Evans will have a broad strategic role beyond property, but Henderson expects to include real estate as well as global equities and bonds in its offering to institutional investors.

AMP is one of the biggest investors in Henderson’s property funds and the property team also advises Australia’s Future Fund on European real estate.

Mike Sales, managing director of global property, said: “Nick’s move is great news as he knows all about our property clients there. Initially, the property business is likely to be about exporting Australian capital”.

Henderson is believed to be talking to AustralianSuper about investing in European property although no mandate has been signed.

Sumner currently leads the Henderson property equities team and has 30 years experience in European property, 15 with Henderson. The rest of the indirect property team including Jason Rodrigues and Liz Sworn remain in place.

Jane Roberts, editor