BlueBay Asset Management has hired Anthony Robertson, senior v.p. and high-yield portfolio manager at Putnam Investments in London, as senior portfolio manager and co-head of high-yield. "BlueBay is looking to expand its product offering away from traditional high-yield to include leveraged loans, mezzanine finance and more deeply distressed bonds," said Robertson. He expects two or three more leveraged finance professionals to be added to the seven-strong team by year-end. Robertson reports to Mark Poole, co-founder and cio of BlueBay. Poole was on vacation and could not be reached. Robertson's is the first departure from the former New Flag Asset Management team of 11 European high-yield professionals, which was acquired by Putnam in June of 2002. Norm Boucher, senior portfolio manager in the Boston office, is moving to London to take Robertson's spot and will start in September. At Putnam, Robertson reported to Anton Simon, managing director and senior portfolio manager. Calls to Putnam were referred to Melissa McVeigh, spokeswoman. She declined comment.