BNP Paribas Asset Management has hired Shona Whitesmith, former head of consultant relationships at Morley Fund Management, as its new head of institutional business development for the UK and Ireland.

Whitesmith, who left Morley eight months ago, replaces Tony Maddock who quit BNP Paribas at the end of last year. She reports directly to Denis Coulon, head of the London office of BNP Paribas Asset Management.