Citco Fund Services (CFS), the world’s largest alternative investment fund administrator, has opened an office in Shanghai.

The office has 80 staff and will project the expansion of Citco’s middle and back office administration services in the greater China region and the Far East in general, according to the firm.

With global assets in excess of $650bn, CFS offers independent administration and outsourced middle office services to hedge funds, fund of funds, private equity funds and managed account platforms from 19 strategic centers globally.

In May 2010, Citco entered into a strategic partnership with OpHedge Investment Services to provide clients with a suite of enhanced middle office services.  The OpHedge partnership enabled CFS to leverage OpHedge’s existing office in Shanghai to expand rapidly into the region, the firm said.

Jeff Li, who was previously president of OpHedge’s Shanghai operation, has been appointed managing director of CFS Shanghai and will oversee the company.

Citco now has 400 staff in the region across fourlocations, namely Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai and Sydney.