Zurich’s revamped investments team has secured the services of a BlackRock researcher and platforms relationship manager who resigned last year.

Matthew Aspinall has joined Zurich’s expanding team as national key accounts manager for investments.

“It’s one of a number of appointments we’ve made to reflect our market-facing focus,” said Zurich’s corporate communications manager, Rob White.

The appointment of Aspinall, who will be the initial major point of contact for Zurich’s major dealer group clients, is one of several new appointments to the investments team in the last six months. Current team members have had their roles expanded, adding to and changing their duties.

“It’s building the team up so we have a bigger team that’s market facing,” White said.

Aspinall brings to the team experience with working with multi-managers and an understanding of the multi-manager structure.

“[Prior to BlackRock] he’s worked in large and middle-sized dealer groups so he understands it from their perspective which is another thing we were keen to have him for,” White said.