Western poaches Baillie Gifford and PIMCO managers

Legg Mason subsidiary Western Asset has expanded its global investment team with the appointment of Baillie Gifford's Gordon Brown and PIMCO's Chi-Liang Lian.

Brown will be portfolio manager on the global markets team, based in Western's London office. He will manage both global mandates and provide specialist input on Eastern European debt markets.

Chia-Liang will head up the investment management team for Asia ex-Japan, to be based in Western's Singapore office, where he will oversee the firm's Asian debt team.

"The line distinguishing developed and developing markets is blurring as they merge into a single global market sector," said James W. Hirschmann, Western's chief executive officer.

"Gordon's and Chia-Liang's background across both developed and developing areas will be a valuable addition to our team," he added.

Brown has 18 years fixed income experience, most recently as a senior investment manager at Baillie Gifford specialising in emerging market rates and currencies. He was previously head of global fixed income for State Street Global Advisors.

Lian also 18 years experience in investment and was head of emerging Asia portfolio management at PIMCO. Prior to that he spent eight years as a sovereign debt strategist at JP Morgan Chase.