BNP Paribas Investment Partners has appointed David Grybas as chief executive of its Australian operations.

Grybas was the company's co-head of institutional business development in Australia.

He will replace Robert Harrison, who has been appointed as chief executive of BNP Paribas Investment Partners' North American operations, becoming chief executive of both BNP Paribas Asset Management and Fischer Francis Trees & Watts (FFTW), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNP Paribas.

FFTW specialises in United States and global fixed income. Harrison will relocate to New York and one of his primary objectives will be to further develop the sales of BNP Paribas Investment Partners US and global products in that strategic region, the company said.

Grybas joined BNP Paribas Asset Management Australia in 2005 and has been responsible for institutional business development and client relationships across Australia and New Zealand.

He will take over responsibility from Harrison in late April.

"David has been an integral part of Rob's team for six years, thus brings experience and continuity to the role as well as new initiatives to continue to build the business," BNP Paribas Investment Partners chief executive Philippe Marchessaux said.

Marchessaux also welcomed the appointment of Harrison.
 
"The business has grown significantly in the nine years he has been CEO of BNP Paribas Investment Partners Australia," he said.

BNP Paribas Investment Partners is the asset management business of BNP Paribas Group and had total assets under management of US$639 billion at the end of December 2011.