Newfleet Asset Management, an affiliate of Virtus Investment Partners that manages more than USD9bn of fixed income assets, has appointed Francesco Ossino as senior managing director and senior portfolio manager in its multi-sector fixed income strategies team.

Ossino has been named head of the bank loan asset class sector and a portfolio manager of the Virtus Senior Floating Rate Fund with David L. Albrycht, chief investment officer, multi-sector fixed income strategies, and Kyle A. Jennings, senior managing director, head of credit research.

"We're pleased to have Frank join our team as a portfolio manager and head of the bank loan sector because his experience and insight, particularly with floating rate bank loan products, will enhance our portfolio analysis, construction and management process," says Albrycht.  "In addition, Frank will be working closely with our distribution partners to help clients understand the investment strategies we employ in the management of the Virtus Senior Floating Rate Fund, and will be an important part of our ongoing product development initiatives."

Ossino joins Virtus following eight years at Hartford Investment Management, where he was senior vice president and bank loan portfolio manager of the USD5bn Hartford Floating Rate Fund, and also managed a commingled bank loan portfolio for institutional investors. 

Prior to Hartford Investment Management, he was vice president and assistant portfolio manager at CIGNA Investment Management, where he managed structured leveraged loan portfolios. He began his career in the financial services industry in the leveraged finance group for Hypovereins Bank and, earlier, FleetBoston Financial.