Bellingham, Wash., Sept. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saturna Capital Corporation, has scaled up its outreach to institutional investors with the hiring of Paul Meeks, CFA, in the dual role of Director of Institutional Investing and Senior Equity Analyst. In this newly created position, Mr. Meeks directs Saturna's outreach to mutual funds, separately managed accounts, endowments, and retirement plans, and works closely with Vice President of Product Development Craig Churman to pursue advisory opportunities. Saturna's institutional services are active both in the U.S. and globally through the company's wholly-owned Malaysian subsidiary, Saturna Sdn. Bhd. The appointment coincides with the recent expansion of Saturna's global investment team, which positions the firm to accommodate a wider array of investment mandates catering to institutional clients going forward.
Operating from Saturna's headquarters in Bellingham, Washington, Mr. Meeks also serves as a senior analyst, applying his twenty-five years of portfolio management and investment research experience to generate performance analytics and playing a key role in the development of investment products tailored to the specific needs of institutions. He brings particular expertise in growth equities with a focus on the technology sector.
"Paul is a rare talent who enhances the capabilities of both our institutional and investment teams, while also serving as a vital link between the two," said Jane Carten, president and CEO of Saturna Capital. "His deep research experience complements our growing global investment team, while his proven ability to build relationships in the institutional arena is central to our ongoing attention to this space."
In his role as Director of Institutional Investing, Meeks will work closely with Saturna's current and prospective institutional clients to advise them on how to best utilize Saturna's investment capabilities in their portfolios.
Saturna's proprietary equity screening processes have been used to customize portfolios for institutional clients worldwide, and have notably found favor in Malaysia where Kuala Lumpur-based Saturna Sdn. Bhd. has developed a strong institutional foothold in that fast-growing market. Mr. Meeks will coordinate with Monem Salam, president of Saturna Sdn. Bhd., to continue to grow the institutional asset base there. SSB's institutional assets have grown in strides since Saturna's strategies were introduced in Malaysia in 2010 and now account for the vast majority of the firm's investment management business.
Paul Meeks has over 25 years of financial industry experience in institutional marketing, investment research, and equity portfolio management. From 2007 to 2012 he was a principal at Meeks Consulting, LLC, in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a portfolio manager and managing director at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, where he started and managed six portfolios totaling $7 billion.
Since 1995, Meeks has regularly appeared as a financial commentator on CNBC, Fox and Bloomberg television and radio. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from Williams College, and a Master of Management degree (MBA) from Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Meeks has taught finance courses as an adjunct professor at The Citadel and College of Charleston. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder.
For more information about Saturna Capital Corporation and Saturna Sdn. Bhd., its wholly-owned subsidiary in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, visit www.saturna.com or www.saturna.com.my.
About Saturna
"Values-Based Global Equity Managers"
Saturna Capital Corporation, established in 1989 in Bellingham, Washington, USA, is an investment adviser with US$4 billion in assets under management, providing investment advisory services to mutual funds, institutions, businesses, individuals, and endowments.
Saturna Capital is adviser to the Amana Mutual Funds (Amana Growth Fund, Amana Income Fund, and Amana Developing World Fund) that follow principles of Islamic finance.
Saturna Capital is also adviser to the Saturna Investment Trust, consisting of Sextant International, Sextant Growth, Sextant Core, Sextant Bond Income, Sextant Short-Term Bond, Sextant Global High Income, and the Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund.
Saturna Sdn. Bhd., located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saturna Capital, specializing in Islamic-compliant investment advisory services for individuals and institutions.
Saturna Capital also has two other wholly-owned subsidiaries: Saturna Brokerage Services, located in Bellingham, Washington, USA, provides general discount brokerage services and distributes Saturna's affiliated mutual funds; and Saturna Trust Company, headquartered in Reno, Nevada, USA, provides trust services to families, charities, trusts, estates, and retirement plans.
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