The mutual fund businesses of
Deutsche Funds,
Bankers Trust,
BT Alex Brown and
Morgan Grenfell were recently combined under the umbrella of
Deutsche Asset Management (DAM) with the acquisition of BT by Deutsche Bank closing. Now the new division has appointed a new head, formerly of Morgan Grenfell.
Jim Grifo, most recently in charge of retail marketing and sales for Morgan Grenfell, is the new head of sales for DAM's mutual fund division and will focus the unit's efforts on financial intermediaries through three main channels: wirehouses and regional firms, RIAs and planners and third-party distribution. Grifo, who is a managing director, will be reporting to
Ross Youngman, managing director in charge of the mutual fund division of DAM.
"We believe that organization by channel brings substantial focus and opportunity to our efforts." said Grifo. "We look forward to providing the investment services that financial intermediaries need to build their businesses. The new organization will market a complementary range of core and specialist funds geared to the needs of financial intermediaries."
Matt Connors, previously managing director in charge of mutual fund sales for BT and BT Alex Brown, will oversee sales to wirehouses and regional brokerage channels.
Grifo will head the RIA/planner channel and
Christopher Farrell, previously vice president at Morgan Grenfell will be responsible for national account relationships.
Phil Stambaugh, most recently national 401(k) sales manager for
Strong Funds, will be responsible for third-party distribution, including marketing to defined contribution alliances, sub-advisory accounts and the variable annuity channel.
A company spokesperson said that there were a "host of issues still involved with the integration of the (various asset management units)" but would not elaborate -- presumably news will be forthcoming on the combining of funds with overlapping investment objectives and further reshuffling of the funds' management. 
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