Platypus Asset Management has appointed Toby Bucks as a small cap analyst, covering the industrial sector.
Bucks joins from investment and brokerage group CSLA Australia, where he was head of emerging industrial research.
He has also worked for Barings in the United Kingdom and Newton Asset Management.
Bucks replaces Jason Sedawie, who had been with Platypus since 2007.
Sedawie recently left the firm to set up his own funds management firm, Decisive Asset Management, which will focus on global growth stocks.
Sedawie said in an interview with Investor Weekly that investors should look to gain more exposure to Chinese consumers.
"In Australia for the past decade we have been fortunate enough to be exposed to the Chinese commodity boom," he said. "To be as fortunate looking forward I believe we need more exposure to Chinese consumption."
Sedawie said that BHP, for example, has looked at potash and bought into shale gas, two commodities that are more centred on Chinese consumption rather than infrastructure.
He said the introduction of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax also contributed to his views that the nature of the Chinese boom is shifting towards consumption.
"By the time the government has figured out something is booming, it must be closer to the end rather than the beginning," he said.
He also said Australian investors should have more exposure to US technology and consumption companies.
"I felt strongly enough to leave a good and secure job at Platypus to go out on my own to offer Australian investors more exposure to these fields," Sedawie said.
The firm has not opened for business yet, Sedawie is still applying for an Australian Financial Services Licence.
