Hamson finds new home with SSgA

State Street Global Advisors(SSgA) Australia has appointed former Westpac Investment Management chief investment officer Don Hamson into the newly created role of head of active Australian equities.

Hamson, who had been working asBT Funds Managementgeneral manager investments since Westpac’s acquisition of the group in April 2002, left the combined entity in early July after having played a large part in the integration process of the organisations.

Hamson, who will commence in the role on August 1, will be responsible for SSgA Australia’s long-only, enhanced Australian equities and long-short strategies - the latter of which is in the process of being launched.

He replaces SSgA Australia senior portfolio manager, Mark East, who left the organisation six weeks ago.

However Hamson, who will be based in Sydney and report to chief investment officer Lochiel Crafter, will adopt an expanded brief to East says SSgA Australia managing director Bernard Reilly.

“Don has built an outstanding reputation in the Australian market, both as an academic and a creator and a manager of investment strategies across the spectrum of asset classes,” Reilly says.

In his time at Westpac, Hamson served four years as investment director for equities and was responsible for managing $7 billion in Australian and global equities.

Hamson spent six years as a finance lecturer at the University of Queensland before entering the investment industry, joiningQueensland Investment Corporationin 1992.