Snowden’s appointment comes as AEGON Asset Management is looking to expand its renowned fixed income expertise into new markets including Europe, following a record breaking year for the business in 2010.
He will report to AEGON Asset Management’s joint head of fixed income David Roberts, and will focus on the investment grade market.
Snowden rejoins AEGON Asset Management from Old Mutual Asset Management where he has been responsible for the £747m Old Mutual Corporate Bond Fund since 2004. Previously he was at AEGON Asset Management where his roles included North American equity analyst before moving to fixed income where he led the retail team at the time of his departure.
His appointment further enhances the reputation of AEGON Asset Management’s UK retail fixed income team, which is recognized as one of the leaders in its field. Snowden’s appointment also follows AEGON Asset Management’s success at the UK and Swiss Lipper Fund Awards 2011, where its AEGON High Yield Bond Fund and AEGON High Yield Global Bond Fund scooped the top prizes in their respective categories.
Currently all three of AEGON Asset Management’s offshore Dublin domiciled global bond range are first quartile over one and three years as well as since their launch 2007. For its onshore range the AEGON High Yield Bond Fund is currently first quartile over one, three and five years, while the AEGON strategic Bond Fund is first quartile over three and five years, with both funds first since their launches in March 2002 and December 2003 respectively.
Roberts says: ‘Stephen is recognised by the industry and his peers as one of the best corporate bond stock-pickers in the market. He shares the same ethos and values as us and will be a great addition to our award winning team as we look to expand our range and capabilities in to new markets.
Snowden says: ‘I am delighted to be joining a team which share my values and management style and I am looking forward to helping the team continue the great progress they are making in the UK and Europe.’
Source : AEGON Press Release
