Distribution Partnerships (Asia-Pacific)
- Role: Distribution & Partnerships Lead
- Department: Capital Formation & Business Development
- Reports To: Head of Capital Formation & Business Development
- Location: Malaysia
- Position Type: Full-Time
About Gaia Investment Partners
Gaia Investment Partners is a premier private markets asset manager specializing in programmatic multi-manager solutions. We construct and manage institutional-grade funds-of-funds across the private markets spectrum, including Private Equity, Private Credit, and Real Assets. Our investment philosophy focuses on providing diversified, institutional-caliber access to top-tier global alternative managers.
Currently, Gaia's funds are successfully distributed through strategic primary partners in Malaysia and Singapore. As part of our next phase of strategic growth, we are actively expanding our footprint across pan-Asian wealth management ecosystems to meaningfully scale our Assets under Management (AUM).
Position Overview
We are seeking an entrepreneurial, highly driven, and deeply networked institutional professional to spearhead our intermediary distribution strategy across Asia. This individual will own the entire lifecycle of distribution partnerships, from initial market mapping and relationship origination to operational onboarding and long-term relationship management.
The ideal candidate possesses an intimate understanding of private markets and fund-of-funds structures, combined with an established Rolodex of decision-makers within major distribution channels. These include consumer and private banks, wealth managers, multi-family offices, securities brokers, and asset management platforms across key Asian financial hubs.
Key Responsibilities
1. Business Development & Relationship Origination
- Identify, map, and systematically target leading third-party distributors across current markets (Singapore, Malaysia) and expansion geographies, with a focus on Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
- Originate and secure new distribution agreements with commercial banks, private banks, retail brokers, insurance platforms, and independent financial advisors (IFAs).
- Articulate Gaia's investment capabilities, fund structures (including private equity, private credit, and real assets), and value proposition to gatekeepers and product committees.
2. Partner Onboarding & Product Placement
- Lead the end-to-end operational, legal, and regulatory onboarding process for all newly secured distribution partners across different jurisdictions.
- Coordinate closely with internal legal, compliance, and operations teams to structure distribution agreements, rebate mechanisms, and service-level operational workflows.
- Navigate and successfully clear the product gatekeeping, operational due diligence (ODD), and investment committee reviews of institutional distributors.
3. Account Management & Commercial Growth
- Serve as the primary relationship manager and strategic point of contact for onboarded distributors, ensuring deep engagement at both executive and product specialist levels.
- Design and execute joint marketing plans, product training modules, and educational workshops for partners relationship managers (RMs) and investment advisors to drive capital inflows.
- Monitor, analyze, and report on distribution channel metrics, sales pipelines, and AUM growth trends to the executive leadership team.
Candidate Profile & Qualifications
- Experience: 8–12 years of professional experience within institutional sales, asset management, wealth management, or alternative investments, with a proven track record of distributing alternative investment funds through intermediaries in Asia.
- Technical Expertise: Deep structural and commercial knowledge of private markets (Private Equity, Private Credit, Real Assets) and the fund-of-funds model. Familiarity with evergreen structures, feeder funds, and cross-border regulatory frameworks is highly advantageous.
- Established Network: An active, high-quality network of product gatekeepers, research heads, and platform selectors within banks, brokers, and wealth advisors across Asia (specifically Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, or Korea).
- Language Capabilities: Excellent English communication skills are required. Fluency in an additional Asian language (e.g., Mandarin, Japanese, or Korean) is highly desirable to effectively cover expansion markets.
- Attributes: A self-starter mindset with the capability to operate autonomously in a fast-growing, dynamic boutique environment; strong negotiation skills and cross-cultural business acumen.
What We Offer
- A pivotal role within a growing, specialized private markets manager with direct visibility and influence over firm-wide AUM expansion.
- A highly competitive base salary paired with an aggressive, performance-linked distribution incentive structure.
- A collaborative, entrepreneurial corporate culture with significant room for professional mobility and leadership development.
How To Apply
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter to [Confidential Information], with the job title in the email subject. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
