SGAM Alternative Investments is setting up a dedicated team of hedge funds specialists in Hong Kong alongside its existing structured products group.

Christophe Lalo has been relocated from Paris to take on the role of Regional Head of Sales & Marketing, Hedge Funds, in Asia Pacific. Prior to this, he was Head of Sales & Marketing in Paris, overseeing the development of hedge funds in Asia Pacific.

Jackson Chan, Director, will assist Christophe as Senior Hedge Funds Sales Manager. Jackson joins SGAM from the family office of SAIL Advisor Ltd (Search Investment Group) in Hong Kong, where he was the Vice President in charge of business development for their fund of hedge funds.

'Asia is a growing part of our structured products and hedge funds businesses. These initial recruitments are the very first step to creating a strong franchise in Asia,' said Philippe Brosse, CEO of Paris-based SGAM AI.

Société Générale Asset Management (SGAM) Group is also expanding its operations in the region, recruiting two Chief Marketing Officers, based respectively in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Beonca Yip has joined SGAM in Hong Kong, where she is responsible for developing institutional business and retail fund distribution in North Asia. A Master of Business Administration (Executive) graduate from the City University of Hong Kong, she began her career with Citibank N.A in 1995 before moving to JF Asset Management. Prior to joining SGAM in January 2006, Beonca was the Regional Director, Asia, International Investments, for Pramerica Asia Fund Management Limited.

Ernest Yeo has joined SGAM in Singapore, where he is responsible for developing SGAM's institutional business and retail fund distribution in South East Asia. Ernest graduated from the National University of Singapore in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and joined Citibank Group. Before joining SGAM in January 2006, Ernest was Director in the Sales and Marketing team at Deutsche Asset Management (Asia) Limited.

'The wealth of experience and in-depth knowledge of Beonca and Ernest are definite assets to SGAM in Asia and we look forward to them sharing these with us,' said Frederic Barroyer, CEO of SGAM Singapore.

SGAM Alternative Investments is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SG Asset Management. SGAM Alternative Investments has developed successfully by combining active asset management processes with a capital market culture that combines innovation and risk management. With EUR 36 billion in assets under management at 31 December 2005, 268 employees worldwide and the strategic and financial backing of SocGen Group, SGAM Alternative Investments has become one of the leading global specialists in alternative investments.

Based in Paris, New York, Tokyo and now Hong Kong, SGAM AI Hedge Funds Group manages EUR 5.6 billion through funds of hedge funds, single strategies and multi-strategy products as at 31 December 2005.

SGAM Group as a whole (SGAM AI, TCW and BAREP) manages EUR 46 billion in alternative investments assets as at 31 December 2005.

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