Chris Clayton, who was in charge of Acadian Asset Management’s Australian business, has left the firm and joined MLC as head of asset management sales.

Clayton left Acadian earlier this month after joining in September 2005. Andrew Hair has been selected to take Clayton’s place on a temporary basis.

Colonial First State Investments, Acadian’s joint-venture partner, says someone will be appointed to head the Australian venture “in due course.” Boston-based Acadian is an asset manager specialising in stocks.

Clayton was previously head of national accounts and research at Colonial First State as well as head of research relationships.

Colonial is a unit of Commonwealth Bank of Australia. MLC is a unit of National Australia Bank.

Clayton’s departure from Acadian was confirmed by an Arcadian executive. An MLC spokesman says Clayton has joined the company.

Hair has worked at Acadian for five years where he has been involved in securing and maintaining business relationships. He has worked as a business development manager at MLC Implemented Consulting and at consultancy Mercer.