Patrick Steiner has joined Threadneedle Investments from Conning Asset Management as head of European insurance sales to lead an expansion of Threadneedle's business across the continent. Based in Zurich, Steiner reports to Andrew Nicoll, global head of insurance.

Steiner had been a business development director for Conning in Europe since 2012 and previously held similar positions at Wellington Management and Deutsche Asset Management (now Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management). "His insurance experience and local knowledge," said Nicoll, "will enable us to build new relationships and to provide a better level of service to our existing clients across the continent."

Threadneedle reported that its insurance assets under management in Europe currently total €55bn ($65bn).