Baring Asset Management chief investment office Ken Lambden has left his position after less than two years as the firm undergoes a $260bn (£181bn) merger.
In March, Barings announced it was to be merged with three other asset management subsidiaries of life insurance parent Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Fixed income specialist Babson Capital Management, Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers and real assets manager Wood Creek Capital Management are to merge with the fund house later this year, with the resulting entity adopting the Barings brand.
Barings attributed Mr Lambden’s departure to this change.
Mr Lambden joined Barings in September 2014 from Schroders, taking over the CIO position left vacant as former-CIO Marino Valensise moved to become head of multi-asset.
Mr Valensise stepped into that role in the aftermath of the departure of Percival Stanion, Andrew Cole and Shaniel Ramjee. The trio left to set up a new multi-asset offering at Swiss rival Pictet Asset Management.
Mr Valensise will now switch back to lead the investment committee until the four firms become fully integrated, expected by Q4.
In a statement, the company said: “We are making progress with our ambition to align the businesses globally around the Barings brand. As the four businesses move to a unified firm, Ken Lambden has made the decision to leave Barings – we wish him success in his future endeavours.”
The company added that the leadership of the equity and multi-asset franchises at Barings would remain under Jean-Louis Scandella and Marino Valensise, and their teams, respectively.
