The US-headquartered investment house has named a director of European fund distribution as it pushes development of this business line.

Principal Global Investors, part of US-listed Principal Financial Group, has appointed Helly Pilavachi as director of European fund distribution – a newly created role that will aid the firm’s plans for growth and the expansion of its fund distribution through third parties.

Pilavachi will be responsible for sales and business development across the firm’s operations in French-speaking Europe: France, French-speaking Switzerland, Monaco, Belgium, and Luxembourg. She will be based in London and will report to the firm’s chief executive in Europe, Nicholas Lyster, and its head of international distribution, Andrea Muller.

Previously, Pilavachi spent nearly nine years at JO Hambro Capital - most recently as director of European sales. With over 19 years of industry experience developing sales in Europe and the Middle East, Pilavachi started her career at RZB Austria and has worked at Scudder Investments, Janus International and ABN Amro, Middle East.

“Helly brings a breadth of experience to our European sales and business development team. Her appointment is part of our global growth strategy in 2015, which places a strong focus on expanding our business development teams this year. We are currently expanding our fund distribution in Europe and Asia through third parties, particularly private banks, and plan to bring in investment and sales professionals accordingly to help manage our growing business and ambition in these regions,” said Lyster.

In her role, Pilavachi will be responsible for introducing the capabilities within Principal Global Investors’ investment boutiques - which span equities, fixed income, real estate, and alternatives - to key intermediaries, fund selectors, and investment platforms.