StanChart hires research head for Hong Kong and China equities

Standard Chartered has appointed Erwin Sanft as head of Hong Kong and China equity research.

Sanft, who is based in Hong Kong, started his role at the bank on Friday (January 11) and reports to Dave Murray, head of equity research. He has more than 15 years of sell-side experience under his belt, bringing with him an established client franchise and market insights, the bank said in a statement announcing the appointment.

In the newly created role, Sanft is set to work closely with the bank’s macroeconomics and fixed-income, currency and commodities (FICC) research analysts to identify regional themes relevant to its clients and coordinate and align its broader Hong Kong and China equity research offering, according to the bank.

“Erwin’s wealth of experience, especially from a China perspective, will complement Standard Chartered’s highly regarded macroeconomics and FICC research team,” Murray said in the statement.

“He will also add strategic context and support to our extensive Hong Kong and China company research coverage.”

Sanft joined Standard Chartered from BNP Paribas, where he held various positions and was most recently chief strategist for Asia equities. He joined BNP Paribas in 2004, after managing CLSA‘s China research team between 1998 and 2004, according to BNP Paribas’s website.

Listed in London, Hong Kong and India, Standard Chartered earns more than 90% of its profits in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Elsewhere at the bank, two market sources have told FinanceAsia that Jeremy Amias, founder and chairman of boutique fixed-income firm Amias Berman & Co, and more recently Asia-Pacific CEO at commodities brokerage house Marex Spectron, is to become the global head of investor client coverage for Standard Chartered, effective March 1.