Legg Mason in double EM manager hire

Legg Mason Global Asset Management has strengthened its London-based global emerging markets team with two new manager hires.

Steve Triantafilidis will join as head of investment for the emerging market Esemplia team and Michael Bourke will join as portfolio manager for the firm's long-only strategies. Both managers will be based in London.

Responsible for the firm's flagship core global emerging market strategy, Bourke will also manage the Legg Mason Esemplia Global Emerging Markets Equity fund.

Triantafilidis joins the firm from Vontobel Asset Management where he was head of global equities. His 28 year investment experience spans a number of asset classes and includes roles at Swiss Re and Daiwa Securities.

The group's new long-only specialist, Bourke, joins from London-based emerging market boutique FPP Asset Management.

The firm said it is also planning to make further hires including three analysts and a portfolio manager based in Hong Kong that will work with the emerging markets team.

Esemplia is the fully-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, which had $646 billion in assets under management as of the end of October last year.