Asset servicer Northern Trust has appointed Alvin Chia as head of digital assets innovation Asia Pacific. Based in Singapore, he will report to Justin Chapman, global head of digital assets and financial markets. Chia will be responsible for developing the firm’s digital assets strategy in the region. He was most recently the expert senior manager of innovation at management consultant Bain. Prior to that, he was vice president for innovation at Singapore bank DBS. His appointment is a further illustration of asset servicers’ efforts to bolster their digital assets offerings. Northern Trust set up its digital assets and financial markets in June in order to bring its digital and traditional offerings under one roof. The appointment also shows the level of interest in digital assets among Apac investors. “We continue to see the pace of innovation continuing across the funds administration and custody sector, with the Apac region experiencing a transformational period of change in light of new technologies,” said Chapman. ©2022 funds global asia