AXA Investment Managers has named Irshaad Ahmad as its new head of the UK and the Nordics as part of plans to consolidate its UK market share and develop its client base in the Nordics.

Ahmad joins from Russell Investments, where he was most recently executive managing director of UK and global retail with responsibility for teams across institutional, retail and consultant sectors, as well as client service and marketing. Prior to this he was president and managing director of Russell Investments in Canada. He has also held various roles at Mercer with responsibilities in investment consulting, strategic development and operational and financial management of the business in Canada.

In his new role Ahmad will be responsible for overall business development strategy for AXA IM in the UK and Nordic markets, including the wholesale distribution and institutional investor market segments in the regions. He will focus on enhancing AXA IM’s dialogue with clients and prospective clients across the pension fund, insurance and distributor spaces, said the firm in a statement. His role also includes a position on the executive committee. Ahmad reports to Jon Bailie, global head of distribution.

AXA Investment Managers, part of the AXA Group, had some €511 billion (just over $734 billion) in assets under management at the end of March 2011.