Invesco Canada Ltd. said Thursday that Rex Chong, who had been on a six-month sabbatical, has decided not to return and is resigning effective immediately. Chong led the Trimark fixed income investment team at Invesco.

In the wake of Chong’s departure, Anthony Imbesi, Alfred Samson and Gary Lew will continue to manage fixed income mandates for the company.

All three are long-time members of fixed income team and have been integral in constructing the firm’s fixed income portfolio strategy.

Additionally, the team will work with Invesco’s global fixed income team, which has particular expertise in corporate credit, high yield and bank loans.

The global fixed income team, which includes portfolio managers from various Invesco Ltd. affiliates across the world, has extensive resources including more than 150 investment professionals managing over US$200 billion in assets for clients around the globe.

“Combining the experience of Invesco Canada’s fixed income team with the size, strength and expertise of the Invesco global fixed income team will give our clients access to some of the best fixed income managers in the world,” said Peter Intraligi, president of Invesco Canada, in a release.

Imbesi has over 16 years of investment management experience. He began his investment career in 1996 at I.A. Michael Investment Counsel, and later was an investment analyst at Middlefield Group. He joined Invesco in 1999, and was promoted to portfolio manager in 2002. Imbesi earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto and he holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Samson has over two decades of progressive experience managing fixed-income securities, including nine years managing a $4-billion portfolio of publicly traded bonds. He began his investment career in 1990 at Zurich Life Insurance Co. of Canada as an investment analyst. He then worked in progressive roles at Maritime Life Assurance Co., first as a portfolio manager and subsequently as director and vice president of public securities, before joining Invesco in 2005. Samson earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University and he holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Lew has over nine years of investment management experience. He began his career at Altamira Financial Services Ltd. and joined Invesco in 2002. In 2009, Lew was promoted to portfolio manager. He earned an MBA from the Rotman School of Business (University of Toronto) and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Saskatchewan. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.