HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of investment decision support tools worldwide, including indices, portfolio risk and performance analytics and corporate governance services, announced today that Chris Ryan has joined the firm as Head of Asia Pacific.

In this newly created role, Mr Ryan will work closely with all of MSCI’s business units, functional and administrative groups and local offices in coordinating a comprehensive and assertive expansion strategy for MSCI in Asia Pacific. He will also head up MSCI’s Asia Pacific Client Coverage team, focusing on delivering MSCI’s range of innovative products and services to both clients and prospects in the region.

Mr Ryan joins MSCI as a Managing Director, reporting to Henry Fernandez, Chairman and CEO of MSCI Inc., and is based in Hong Kong.

“Chris is a 30-year veteran of the asset management industry in Asia Pacific, having held senior positions at some of the leading investment firms in the region,” said Mr Fernandez. “His experience and knowledge of these businesses, as well as his proven ability to manage diverse teams across Asia Pacific, made him the perfect candidate for this new role. I am delighted that Chris is joining us and I am sure that he will play a pivotal role in growing our business in this important part of the world.”

Before joining MSCI, Chris was Chief Executive Officer of Perpetual Ltd, a publicly traded asset management firm in Australia. From 2010 to 2011 he was Managing Director and Senior Advisor of Citibank’s Global Transaction Services business in Asia. In 2008 he joined Fidelity International Ltd in Asia where he was Managing Director. Prior to that, he worked at ING Investment Management Asia Pacific Ltd from 2000 to 2007, where his last role was as Chief Executive Officer for the region. Chris has also had senior leadership roles at Deutsche Asset Management, HSBC Funds, John A Nolan and Associates, National Mutual Funds Management Company and Commonwealth Bank. He graduated from Monash University in Australia with a Bachelor of Business degree.

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About MSCI

MSCI Inc. is a leading provider of investment decision support tools to investors globally, including asset managers, banks, hedge funds and pension funds. MSCI products and services include indices, portfolio risk and performance analytics, and governance tools.

The company’s flagship product offerings are: the MSCI indices with approximately USD 7 trillion estimated to be benchmarked to them on a worldwide basis¹; Barra multi-asset class factor models, portfolio risk and performance analytics; RiskMetrics multi-asset class market and credit risk analytics; MSCI ESG (environmental, social and governance) Research screening, analysis and ratings; ISS governance research and outsourced proxy voting and reporting services; FEA valuation models and risk management software for the energy and commodities markets; and CFRA forensic accounting risk research, legal/regulatory risk assessment, and due‐diligence. MSCI is headquartered in New York, with research and commercial offices around the world.

¹As of June 30, 2011, based on eVestment, Lipper and Bloomberg data.

For further information on MSCI, please visit our web site at www.msci.com