JP Morgan Asset Management has appointed Bob Fields as executive director and client portfolio manager for the tax-aware fixed income group.

Fields was previously the municipal product manager and senior vice president at PIMCO, where he managed the municipal business. Prior to that, he was head of sales and business development at eBondTrade, an online municipal bond investment bank.

In his new role at JPMorgan AM, he will be overseeing the West Coast sales and client relationship development across the wealth management channels of the company's fixed income unit. He reports to Connie Plaehn, the managing director and head of the fixed income wealth advisory team. Fields' appointment officially begins in 9 May 2011.

JP Morgan AM is said to be looking to expand its fixed income presence. Its parent firm, JPMorgan Chase, took over the branches of Washington Mutual and converted them into Chase offices in 2008, an acquisition which added 730 branches in California.