State Street transfers Baker

State Street has announced a major appointment in its regional investor services business, transferring firm veteran Peter Baker from London to Singapore. For the Boston-based group, Baker takes on the role of head of investor services for State Street in Asia ex-Japan, replacing Chong Jin Leow, who departed the firm earlier in the year for The Bank of New York.

From Singapore, Baker will report directly to KK Tse, executive vice president and head of State StreetÆs investment servicing operations for all of Asia-Pacific. He will start his new role in Singapore in December.

In taking his new Asia position, Baker will relinquish his current position as head of State StreetÆs investor service business in the UK, Middle East and Southern Africa, which he took on in 2004. Baker has been instrumental in implementing a newly aligned structure in the UK aimed at delivering a more integrated suite of services to its customer base.

Prior to working in London, Baker was head of State StreetÆs investment servicing business in Australia, a role which he began in 1997. Joining State Street in Sydney in 1988, he served with the firm in London on a previous occasion between 1989 and 1997.

ôI canÆt think of a better time to return home to the region,ö says Baker. ôI leave the UK after two years with a strong management team in place and the new alignment for our customers already showing results. I am enthused about the opportunities ahead and look forward to working with our outstanding team in the region to continue to build upon our leadership and success.ö

BakerÆs move to Singapore follows the departure earlier this year of Chong Jin Leow, who joined The Bank of New York in June in the newly created role of managing director and head of investor services in Asia. For the rival bank, Chong is based in Singapore.

While State Street was looking for a replacement for Chong, his role was filled by Tse.