UK – Deutsche Asset Management has appointed the former deputy chief investment officer of Invesco Asset Management, Bill Barron, as head of global research.

The appointment is part of a series of moves to bolster the firm's global equities unit.

Deutsche AM is the second largest manager of European pension fund assets, with around 102 billion dollars of such assets under management.

Barron, who was with Invesco since 1994 and headed the firm’s emerging markets arm, will be based in London and will be responsible for all the global sector team heads. He will report to Karl Sternberg, chief investment officer Europe and Asia, and to Leo Grohowski, chief investment officer Americas.

The appointment of Barron marks a push by DeAM into global equities. In addition, Stephen Barrow has been made head of the global equities portfolio selection team in London. Barrow will be responsible for cross-regional global equity portfolios selected on a stock-by-stock basis.

Diane Seymour-Williams has been appointed product head for global equities. She will work with the portfolio selection team to develop the product range for the European, UK and Asian markets.