Russell adds to its team with Towers Watson and Old Mutual hires

Russell Investments has added two new members to its team, hiring from Old Mutual Global Investors and Towers Watson.

Adam Smears, formerly of Old Mutual, has joined Russell as head of fixed income research and takes charge of a nine-strong team at the firm.

Kevin Dockrell has come on board as a fixed income research analyst and joins from Towers Watson.

Jeff Hussey, chief investment officer of fixed income, said Russell has continued to see strong demand from its clients, with many investors keen to broaden out their multi asset portfolios with fixed income products.  Hussey said this made it essential Russell had the right team in place.

He explained: 'To best support this demand it is increasingly important our team structure takes a truly international approach – and we have fixed income researchers and portfolio managers throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.'

Russell's new joiners will be based in London and bring with them close to two decades' experience in fixed income.

Smears has 15 years' research and portfolio management experience and spent the last eight years at Old Mutual Global Investors.

Dockrell, meanwhile, has served for the last four years at Towers Watson working in fixed income research and investment consultant roles covering Sterling and European fixed income, emerging market debt, global credit and multi-strategy alternative credit.