Stephen Parker is joining the ETF provider as portfolio manager, where he will be responsible for funds management, reconciliation, and reporting, according to the firm.
In a statement on Wednesday, Global X said Parker brings nearly a decade of experience in financial services to the role. Namely, he began his career in investment management in 2015 at Star Beta, trading various interest rate futures products with a focus on Australian and US government bond futures.
In 2016, Parker joined Coolabah Capital Investments as a quantitative analyst, later advancing to portfolio manager. In this role, he managed all aspects of portfolio management for the company’s suite of funds and mandates.
His academic background includes a PhD in astrophysics and a bachelor of science from the University of New South Wales, which Global X said positions him uniquely to drive innovation and optimise portfolio performance.
“His strategic vision and deep understanding of market dynamics will be instrumental in enhancing Global X’s product offerings, equipping him to deliver superior returns to investors,” the firm explained.
The ETF provider has continued to expand its local research and investment teams over the last 12 months, namely with the appointment of Billy Leung to the role of investment strategist in April.
Moreover, Global X welcomed Marc Jocum as product and investment strategist and Manny Damianakis as head of sales late last year.
This team development comes as Global X ETFs surpassed $7 billion in assets under management (AUM) in April, moving towards its goal of $10 billion in AUM by the end of 2025.
“Our AUM has surpassed $7 billion and we will continue to execute on intelligent strategies to facilitate further growth,” chief executive Evan Metcalf said earlier this year.
According to the firm, Parker’s appointment also coincides with the launch of the Global X Australian Bank Credit ETF (ASX: BANK) earlier this month, which it deems a “first-to-market” solution.
“Australian banks are some of the highest-quality financial institutions in the world, recognised for their lower risk and strong capital positions. They are paying attractive yields on some of their fixed income securities like senior bonds, subordinated debt and hybrids, which are higher than what their term deposits are offering,” it said.
“While these securities were once hard to access by everyday investors, ETFs have democratised access to this asset class, making fixed income easier, more liquid, and cheaper to manage.”
