Zurich Financial Services has appointed privately-held asset manager American Century Investments (ACI) to look after the international growth fund component of its diversified funds.
ACI was selected due to its differentiated growth style, which focused on accelerating and sustainable growth rather than simply momentum, Zurich said.
The move is Zurich's first step towards a multi-manager structure in international shares.
"Previously there was only one international manager in Zurich's diversified funds, the Zurich Investments Global Thematic Share Fund," Zurich investments director Matthew Drennan said.
"We believe that investors will benefit from offering an additional complementary investment manager within the mix."
Lazard Asset Management is the underlying manager of the thematic product.
Zurich has also announced the release of the Zurich Investments Global Growth Share Fund and the Zurich Investments Unhedged Global Growth Share Fund.
Both are managed by ACI and are designed for long-term investors who want to capitalise on the unique opportunities presented by fast-growing companies around the world.
"Advisers need a range of products that have different investment processes so that they can allow their clients to benefit from diversification, potentially increasing returns, without increasing the level of risk incurred," Drennan said.
In May, ACI appointed Tony Archer to the position of Asia Pacific business head and opened its Asia Pacific sales office in Hong Kong.
Archer and his business development team will introduce ACI capabilities to financial intermediaries and institutional investors across the Asia Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand, ACI said in May.
