Threadneedle has named Sandra Cheng to the newly-created position of head of institutions for Southeast Asia.

Cheng joins the company from Deutsche Asset Management, where she was responsible for business development in the region, covering corporates, endowments, government-sponsored entities and pensions. She has worked for global financial firms in Hong Kong and Singapore, including HSBC Global Asset Management and Wellington International Management.

Her appointment came alongside the naming of Sheila Tan as head of Taiwan distribution, also a newly-created position. Tan joined Threadneedle in 2008 as sales director for North Asia. Prior to this role, she spent nine years in business development, client relationship and marketing roles at UBS Global Asset Management in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Both appointments are in line with the company's growth plans for Southeast Asia, the firm said in a statement. Tan began in her new Hong Kong based role in April 2010, while Cheng will join the Singapore office on 13 September.