EUROPE – US asset manager Mellon Global Investments has hired Rainer Lenzin from Lehman Brothers in Zurich to be its new vice president for fund sales in Austria and Switzerland.

Lenzin joined Mellon on October 4. The 34-year-old reports to Neal Kutner, who is the firm’s first vice president for fund sales in the region.

Lenzin’s responsibilities include promoting Mellon’s offshore fund range to multi-manager platforms and further developing the distribution of Mellon funds through private banks in the two countries.

At Lehman Brothers, Lenzin was responsible for institutional equity sales in Switzerland, Holland and Germany.

“Our business in Austria and Switzerland has grown significantly in recent years and now warrants additional resource to focus on further developing the distribution of our Mellon Global Funds range,” said chief executive Jon Little.

Last month the firm said it would launch a 50-50 venture with WestAM, the asset management arm of German Landesbank WestLB.