Aberdeen Standard Investments continues to restructure top management following the arrival of a new CEO this summer.

In further top-table reshuffles to realign accountability, Alex Hoctor-Duncan has been promoted to global head of Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI).

He joined the UK manager in 2018 as global sales director, where he was responsible for coordinating the firm’s global sales activity. Prior to that he spent 20 years in senior retail distribution roles at US giant Blackrock.

In the newly-created role, he will lead on global client-facing asset management distribution for ASI, which has a sizable Asia footprint, reporting directly to Standard Life Aberdeen CEO Stephen Bird.

Former Citi-exec Bird replaced Keith Skeoch as chief executive in July and since then has made a number of leadership changes. Reshuffles have seen the exit of Campbell Fleming as head of distribution and Aberdeen Standard Capital chief executive Richard Charnock promoted to the leadership team. Hoctor-Duncan has also joined the top table at the Edinburgh-based asset firm, which manages around £455 billion ($563 billion) largely for pension funds, insurers, charities and foundations.

Bird said: “I am delighted to have Alex join my leadership team. It is important that our clients feel confident in the strength of our partnership and the value we can provide."

Hoctor-Duncan (pictured) said: “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.” He joined the firm roughly a year after Standard Life merged with Aberdeen Asset Management spinning off its insurance business to the Phoenix Group.

“I am looking forward to working more closely with Stephen and the rest of the executive leadership team," he added, and taking "a razor sharp focus to delivering on our asset management business’ potential for growth.”