By Rhandell Rubio

The Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), the UK’s second largest private sector pension fund and the principal pension scheme for UK universities, has tapped Carmel Peters, Danila Gallarto and Chris Shale to beef up its global emerging markets equities capabilities. In the recent move, Ms. Peters will be leading a combined GEMS/Asia unit which would incorporate USS’ existing four-strong Asia Pacific ex-Japan team.

Roger Gray, CIO at USS, notes that the three additions bring great experience and calibre to the organisation, enabling it to further strengthen its Asian capability and take a global approach to the varied opportunities across the full range of emerging markets.

Ms. Peters has been investing in Asia and emerging markets for over 25 years. She joins USS RWC Partners where she was a partner and head of Asia-Pacific and global emerging markets. In her previous stint, she spent four years at Sofaer Capital Research as a partner and portfolio manager of the Sofaer Asia, Sofaer Pacific and Sofaer Emerging Markets hedge funds.

Ms. Gallarto joins USS with over 15 years’ experience in the financial sector, including ten years managing emerging market portfolios. She started her career at the Allianz group in Italy as an investment specialist for Emerging Europe, Middle-East and Africa (EMEA) and India. From 2004 to 2007, she worked in the emerging markets group at Hermes, the manager of the largest UK Pension fund, latterly as a director. She then moved to the UAE where she worked at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority as head of equity opportunities for Europe, with responsibility for ADIA’s strategic investment in both developed and emerging European markets, both private and public.

Meanwhile, Mr. Shale possesses 15 years of experience investing in Asia. Previously, he worked with Ms. Peters at RWC on the Asia Pacific ex-Japan markets. Prior to joining RWC he worked with Carmel as an analyst at Sofaer Capital, covering both Asia Pacific ex-Japan and GEM markets. From 2002 to 2005 he worked as an analyst in Collins Stewart UK Ltd, where he was responsible for the Japan/ Asia CFROI product.