Spence Johnson, Hermes EOS, Algebris, PIMCO, BlackRock, Russell Investments, Norges Bank Investment Management

Spence JohnsonNils Johnson, co-founder of the research consultancy alongside Magnus Spence, has been named director of retirement following a reorganisation that will see the company split into two business practices. Nigel Birch will head up the second practice as director of institutional. Spence will be managing director of the new business.

Hermes Equity Ownership ServicesChristine Chow Knowles has been named associate director of engagement, joining from the Hong Kong-based Homage Consulting. She has previously worked as a portfolio manager at Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow. Jaime Gornsztejn was also named associate director of engagement and joins from BNDES, the Brazilian national development bank.

Algebris InvestmentsSimon Peters joins as portfolio manager for public equity strategies. Peters joins from PIMCO, where he was senior vice-president in charge of global and growth strategies, a position he only assumed in summer last year. He has previously worked at Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC.

BlackRock Rupert Harrison is to join as head of macro-strategies for multi-asset funds. Harrison, who will join the asset manager in September, was chief of staff to UK chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne during the last Parliament and is one of the people credited with the overhaul of defined contribution regulation that now allows savers to withdraw their pot from 55 years of age.

Russell InvestmentsVan Luu has joined the manager as head of currency and fixed income. Luu, who will be responsible for devising currency hedging strategies, joins from Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM). At NBIM, responsible for management of the Government Pension Fund Global, she was a senior analyst for investment policy.