The inaugural Power 50 list, published yesterday by Hong Kong-based Asia FM, names the top fifty most influential fund managers in the region and breaks out the top ten.

A long list of nominations was compiled through a survey of the magazine’s readers and key figures in the fund management arena. A shortlist of fifty candidates was drawn up by a judging panel, who highlighted the top ten. 

Asia FM editor Kapila Gohel said in a statement: “For many years, global management firms dominated the Asian fund scene but in a region rich with talent and leadership, homegrown expertise is now rising to the surface.”

Although investors are clamouring for exposure to Asia’s strong growth story, where GDP is predicted to rise 11 per cent this year, returns can be low according to global consultant the Boston Consulting Group. Assets managed by private banks and wealth managers in Asia Pacific soared 12 per cent last year according to a report published by BGC:  2Shaping a New Tomorrow: How to Capitalise on the Momentum of Change".

However, returns on assets were flat on 2009, at 73 basis points. Cost-to-income ratios were higher for Asia-Pacific wealth managers last year than almost anywhere else in the world, flat-lining at 81 per cent, according to the report. By comparison, European institutions cost-to-income ratios fell slightly last year to 65 per cent for onshore institutions and 69 per cent for offshore firms.

Here, this publication lists the top ten fund managers according to AsiaFM, in alphabetical order by company. The magazine did not provide the performance of the individual fund managers.

         Rohit Bhagat, Asia-Pacific chairman, BlackRock

        Fan Yonghong, chief executive and president, ChinaAMC

        Lou Jiwei, CEO, China Investment Corporation

        Mark Mobius, executive chairman, Franklin Templeton Emerging Markets

        Zhang Lei, founder and managing partner, Hillhouse Capital Management

        Park Hyeon Joo, founder and chairman, Mirae Asset

        Sundeep Sikka, CEO, Reliance Capital Asset Management

        Kim Suk, president and CEO, Samsung Asset Management

        Bernard Reilly, managing director, Asia-Pacific, State Street Global Advisors

        Cheah Cheng Hye, founder and CIO, Value Partners

For the top 50 click here.