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Mr Ghosh, who joined Newton from SG Asset Management in 2006, had been manager of the fund since April 2007, when he replaced Miki Sugimoto.

Earlier this year, Newton pulled Mr Ghosh from the fund after it fell into the fourth quartile over one year to February 16.

According to Morningstar, during Mr Ghosh's tenure from April 1 2007 to February 1 2009, the fund declined by 27.2 per cent, compared with the IMA Equity Japan sector's average loss of 18.5 per cent over the same period.

Newton handed the reins of the Japan fund to Ewan Markson-Brown, a member of the Asia team, in mid-February.

It also said the new manager would align the fund more closely with the thematic approach employed by the existing team.

At the time, Newton said it was in talks with Mr Ghosh regarding his future with the company, with the possibility of taking on an alternative role.

But it has now confirmed Mr Ghosh left in March.

Paul Feeney, head of distribution at BNY Mellon Asset Management, said: "In recognition of the need for stock leadership from the Japanese team, and following a review of the track record of the Japanese portfolios, we moved the management of these portfolios to Mr Markson-Brown in our Asian team.

"We worked with Mr Ghosh on alternative positions within the group, but as a result of these changes, Mr Ghosh left the company in March."

Mr Ghosh was unavailable for comment.