Principal Global Investors has appointed Andrea Muller as managing director for Asia ex-Japan and chief executive officer of PGI East Asia, based in Singapore.

Principal Global Investors has appointed Andrea Muller as managing director for Asia ex-Japan and chief executive officer of PGI East Asia, based in Singapore.

Muller has over 23 years of experience handling multinational companies and has served ten years under UBS' investment banking and asset management units in Singapore and Paris. Her most recent position is a head of Fitch Ratings Asia Pacific.

In her new role, she will be focussing on activities in Asia ex-Japan, including Hong Kong and Singapore. Muller takes over from Kirk West, who has been promoted to executive director for international distribution in November last year and now oversees distribution networks in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

"We have ambitious aims in Asia and (Muller's) range of experience makes her an excellent fit for our business," said Jim McCaughan, the CEO of PGI, in a statement.

Principal Global Investors is a US-based diversified asset management organisation that is also a member of the Principal Financial Group. Its key focus includes equities, fixed income, real estate investment, and overlay and advisory services. It has $215.4 billion in assets under management.