In the newly-created role, Stewart will report to Polly Smith, senior vice-president for business development, and will have primary responsibility for investor relations as well as strategic marketing and branding in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

She was previously investor relations manager at alternative asset management firm LNG Capital, where she was instrumental in establishing and managing all aspects of marketing for the firm.

Earlier she was a client relationship associate at RAB Capital, the Aim-listed multi-strategy investment management company, where she assisted in marketing the hedged investment funds to UK-based retail investors, and managed communications to external parties.

Yuichi 'Alex' Takayama, chief executive of Tokio Marine Asset Management London, says: 'At a time when investors are even keener to find out about the health of their investments, it gives me great pleasure to have someone of Ms Stewart's calibre joining the TMAL team.

'Her keen client focus, database management skills and exacting attitude will ensure that the Tokio Marine Asset Management group's European clients will continue to be given the first-class service their Japanese and Asian counterparts have come to expect as standard. Anji's appointment, following closely on the heels of Polly Smith's, also further demonstrates TMAL's long-term commitment to the European market."

Stewart adds: 'As Tokio Marine Asset Management looks to establish itself as the premier provider of Japanese and Asian investment in the European market, I intend to use my years of accumulated knowledge and experience of the domestic and continental market, which includes the hedge fund space, to help the firm achieve this very attainable goal.

'Particularly in these tough times, I have no doubt that the Tokio Marine Asset Management group's reputation for excellence in Japan and Asia will be a message that will resonate well amongst the European institutional investment community."

Tokio Marine Asset Management (London) is the European subsidiary of Tokio Marine Asset Management, whose parent company is Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, one of the largest non-life insurance companies in Japan.