Baring Asset Management, which revealed plans last year to create a new London-based unit to run its Japanese equities business, has appointed a head of the team at a time when its industry peers are struggling with a drop in investor interest in the asset class.

Jonathan Greenhill, formerly a Japanese equities portfolio manager at London funds boutique Occam Asset Management, has taken on the role and will report to Tim Scholefield, Baring's head of equities.