Damien Koch, who worked at Suncorp Investment Management, has been hired by Dimensional Fund Advisors to manage fixed income investments.

Koch will be the second bond portfolio manager in Dimensional’s Sydney office and will work with Steve Garth, who has been at the firm for 11 years, according to a Dimensional statement.

There are eight portfolio managers at Dimensional’s Sydney office, which manages about $17.5 billion in funds and manages stock and real estate investment trust funds. The Texas-based firm manages about US$209 billion globally.

Koch will manage bond investments of short-term and longer duration offered by the firm to its Australian clients.