Edinburgh-based investment giant Standard Life Aberdeen has appointed Alex Hoctor-Duncan as the new global head of its £456 billion asset management business Aberdeen Standard Investments.

In the newly created position, Hoctor-Duncan will report directly to Standard Life Aberdeen’s new chief executive Stephen Bird.

“I am delighted to have Alex join my leadership team,” said Bird.

“It is important that our clients feel confident in the strength of our partnership and the value we can provide.

“We need to connect more as when we listen intently to our clients and fulfil their needs effectively, quickly and consistently – we will build a sustainable pattern of growth and achieve our purpose of investing for a better future.”

Hoctor-Duncan said: “I am looking forward to working more closely with Stephen, and the rest of the executive leadership team, as I take a razor sharp focus to delivering on our asset management business’ potential for growth.

“In my two years at Aberdeen Standard Investments, we’ve taken excellent steps forward and I’m delighted with what we’ve achieved for clients, particularly in the midst of a pandemic, but there’s much more we can do and I’m excited for the next stage.”

Hoctor-Duncan joined Aberdeen Standard Investments as Global Sales Director in 2018 from Blackrock where he was head of its EMEA Retail business.

Previously, he worked for Mercury Asset Management and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers which are now both parts of Blackrock.

The appointment follows a major statement from Standard Life Aberdeen on September 28 when new chief executive Stephen Bird moved to strengthen his leadership team with four appointments.

That move saw former global head of distribution Campbell Fleming leave the company.

“Since his appointment as CEO at the start of September, Stephen Bird has been reviewing how best to align the leadership of the business to meet the changing needs of our customers and clients, and position the company for growth across the four existing vectors – asset management, adviser platforms, savings and wealth, and strategic partnerships,” said Standard Life Aberdeen on September 28.

“To support this structure, Alex Hoctor-Duncan, Noel Butwell, Julie Scott and Richard Charnock will join Stephen’s leadership team.”

Butwell is Standard Life Savings CEO, Scott is CEO of the group’s 1825 business and Charnock is CEO of Aberdeen Standard Capital.

Standard Life Aberdeen said in August its group assets under management and administration were about £545 billion.