PIMCO has named Craig Dawson as Head of Europe Middle East and Africa, succeding Bill Benz, who retires after 30 years in the company.
Craig A. Dawson is a managing director and head of strategic business management. Previously, he was head of PIMCO’s business in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, and head of product management for Europe. Prior to joining PIMCO in 1999, Mr. Dawson was with Wilshire Associates, an investment consulting firm.
William R. Benz will retire at the end of June 2016. He joined PIMCO in 1986 and is a managing director in the London office and head of PIMCO Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). He is the chief executive of PIMCO Europe Ltd., the chairman of PIMCO Funds Global Investors Series plc and is a former member of PIMCO’s executive committee.
Dawson said: “Europe is a strategically important region for PIMCO, where political, sovereign and macroeconomic events have been at the heart of the market forces shaping the global economy.
“I look forward to continuing the great success that Bill and the team have built over the years in their continued focus on providing investors with the performance, market insights and client service that investors have come to expect from PIMCO around the world.”
Douglas Hodge, chief executive of PIMCO, said: “Bill has built a leading business in the UK and across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, which Craig is perfectly placed to build on given his combination of experience in Europe and oversight of PIMCO’s strategic initiatives.”
Benz added:“Although much has changed during my 30 years at PIMCO, there are two things that have remained constant and are stronger today than when I joined: the firm’s outstanding commitment to client service, and its unwavering focus on consistent, sustained and risk-adjusted investment outperformance for all clients.”