Edinburgh-based fund manager Martin Currie, the Legg Mason affiliate and active equity specialist with $17.2 billion of assets under management, has hired Yulia Hofstede as a portfolio manager in its Global Long-Term Unconstrained Equity team.

Hofstede, who joins Martin Currie from BlackRock, will start her new role in March 2020 as a portfolio manager covering the technology, media and telecoms sectors.

Based in the firm’s London office, she will report into Zehrid Osmani, Head of Global Long-Term Unconstrained at Martin Currie.

Prior to joining BlackRock, where she was a global equity analyst, Hofstede held equity research roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse. She started her career with Rothschild & Co.

Osmani said: “We are delighted to welcome Yulia to Martin Currie. With her extensive analytical expertise, proven track record of alpha generation and innovative mindset, she is a great fit for the team and its style of high conviction long term unconstrained investing.

“I have personally worked with Yulia before and know she will be able to make a strong positive contribution to both the company and its funds.”

Martin Currie CEO Julian Ide said: “Yulia will join us at an exciting stage in our development with 87% of our investment strategies above benchmark; a revitalised culture centred around empowerment and excellence; and a powerful client proposition which is winning business with the world’s leading institutions.”