EUROPE - Jan Straatman, former capital markets head at ABP pension fund and current chief investment officer at UK-based Axial Investment Management, is returning to the Netherlands to become chief investment officer at ING Europe.

His move has just been announced at the same time as Pearl Group revealed the Financial Services Authority has approved its merger of Resolution Asset Management.

A statement issued by the firm reveals Gavin Stewart, current ceo of Resolution AM is to become ceo of Pearl Group's enlarged asset management group, which has assets under management of £80bn (€110bn).

Commenting on Straatman's departure - who moved to Axial as chief executive and CIO of Axial in 2006 - Hugh Osmond, entrepreneur and head of Pearl Group, said:

"We are sorry to lose Jan and would like to thank him for the very important contribution he has made to Axial and to the Pearl Group over the last two years. We wish him well for the future."

If you have any comments you would like to add to this or any other story, contact Julie Henderson on + 44 (0)20 7261 4602 or email julie.henderson@ipe.com

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