The new CEO, who was appointed deputy CEO last February, has been with the Dublin-based firm since 1994.

The board of KBI Global Investors (KBIGI), a specialist asset management boutique, has appointed Geoff Blake as chief executive officer, effective from the end of March.

Presently deputy CEO and global head of business development and client services, Blake joined the Dublin-based firm in 1994 and was appointed deputy CEO in February last year. He worked in various sales and client servicing roles before being appointed head of business development in 2006.

Blake was based in KBIGI’s US office from 2007 to 2014, playing a key role in building out the firm’s North American business. Since his return to Ireland, he has continued to work with clients and consultants globally. In his current role, he heads up a team of 20 staff based in Ireland, France and the US.

Blake was appointed to the KBIGI North America board in April 2008 and the Irish parent company board in 2015. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, both in economics, from University College Dublin.

KBIGI has made other appointments recently. In December it appointed Eve Finn as an independent non-executive director and Craig Bonthron as senior portfolio manager – Natural Resources Equity Strategies.