Fiera Capital Corporation, an independent asset management firm with over $116.1bn AUM as at 30 June 2024, has appointed John Cappetta as managing director, Head of Asia, excluding Japan and Korea, Fiera Capital Asia, effective immediately.
Cappetta (pictured) brings to Fiera’s Singapore office over 34 years’ experience, most recently as head of private banking and Asia advisor to global investment manager Ninety One.
Prior to, Cappetta had served as managing director Senior Advisor to Julius Baer where he was based in the bank’s Singapore office for six years, and head of mutual fund sales Asia for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Other roles include stretches at Van Hedge Funds, Safra Asset Management, and Merrill Lynch where Cappetta initially developed his sell-side APAC specialism.
Cappetta will report to Rob Petty, executive director & CEO, Fiera Capital Asia, and will build on the existing Asia team’s profitable business and 23-year history in Singapore, Hong Kong and Korea. The company’s decision to expand its offering in Asia follows the recent appointment of CJ Morrell, Head of Japan, who also began his career at Merrill Lynch before roles with JP Morgan and latterly Sloane Robinson Asset Management.
The addition of Cappetta to Fiera’s capability in Asia supports the ongoing rollout of Fiera’s decentralised distribution model, with the Company seeking to service its institutional, wholesale and financial intermediary clients in Asia directly as global asset managers look to benefit from the region’s growing desire for specialist and highly customisable public and private market strategies.
Rob Petty, CEO, Fiera Capital Asia, said: “John has developed an unmatched understanding of distribution across Asia, with significant expertise in Singapore where he has worked since 2007. The region’s distinct appetite and preference for highly customisable investment solutions requires a personal connection to core markets, and as we expand our offer to investors in Asia at all tiers it will be this nuanced appreciation for what motivates investment decision-making that sets apart our public and private market strategies and active management approach.”
Cappetta said: “Investors in Asia are increasingly seeking new opportunities in alternative assets, such as private credit, real assets, and private equity. Fiera Capital’s robust presence across both private and public markets provides us with the ability to offer tailored solutions to meet client needs.
"With a 20-year track record, Fiera Capital’s integrated capabilities across private and public markets, combined with its global reach, ESG focus, and multi-asset expertise, present a compelling value proposition for Asian investors. As demand for diversified investments, particularly in alternatives and sustainable investing, continues to grow in the region, Fiera Capital is well-positioned to meet these evolving needs.”
Private alternatives remain a principal focus for Fiera Capital Asia with unleveraged, income generating private credit serving as its cornerstone strategy. This includes Fiera Asia’s ANZ real estate debt strategy, recognised for its performance with a Preqin’s Award for the Best Credit Strategies Hedge Fund in 2023, in addition to Fiera’s established expertise in Canadian, European and U.S. real estate debt.
These strategies sit alongside Fiera’s growing offering of specialist alternatives, including infrastructure, direct real estate, agriculture and its newly introduced Global Timberland Strategy, and the Company’s equity suite that includes Small-Mid Cap (SMID) Growth, Fiera OAKS EM Select, Canadian Equity and Fiera Atlas Global Companies.
Cappetta’s appointment is the latest in a series of hires to broaden Fiera’s global expansion with the company announcing the opening of dedicated regional offices in Zurich, The Hague and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in 2024.
