Dan McNicholas, former director and head of financing sales for Global Markets Financing & Futures, Asia Pacific at Bank of America Merrill Lynch (Hong Kong), has joined State Street Corporation as head of sales for Alternative Investment Servicing Solutions, Asia Pacific, reported Global Custodian this week. In his new role McNicholas will work with client-facing teams to develop and lead sales strategies for State Street’s hedge fund, private equity and real estate operations across the region. He will report directly to Maria Cantillon, global head of AIS Sales. State Street expanded its hedge fund servicing business into Asia Pacific last year, announcing plans to expand existing private equity and real estate servicing operations in China, Hong Kong and Singapore. In 2010 it established itself in the region as an alternative funds service provider when it acquired Mourant International Finance Administration. Commenting on his new role, McNicholas was quoted as saying: “There’s growing demand for hedge, private equity and real estate fund administration services from investment managers across Asia Pacific and I look forward to building on the success of our business in North America and Europe by contributing to the expansion of our footprint here in the region.”