Principal Global Investors Announces New Managing Director for Asia

Principal Global Investors (PGI) announces Andrea Muller will join the organization as managing director for Asia-ex Japan, and chief executive of PGI East Asia, based in Singapore. Effective March 30, 2010, she will head the region with responsibility for activities in Asia-ex Japan, including the Singapore and Hong Kong offices.

Muller has over 23 years of experience with large multinational firms and was most recently the head of Fitch Ratings Asia Pacific. Prior to that, she spent ten years with UBS in investment banking then asset management, in both Paris and Singapore.

"We are pleased to have Andrea join our organization,” said Jim McCaughan, CEO of Principal Global Investors. "She has an impressive track record in the asset management, investment banking and ratings industry with established financial institutions. We have ambitious aims in Asia, and her range of experience makes her an excellent fit for our business.”

McCaughan says Muller’s expertise complements that of the existing team in Asia and her background will be of great benefit to clients.

Muller earned her bachelor’s degree in international relations from Georgetown University – School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C., and a master’s degree in European Union studies at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, where she studied on a Rotary fellowship. Subsequently, she received her law degree from Georgetown University Law. She is a member of the New York and Paris bars.

Muller replaces Kirk West, who was promoted to executive director-international distribution in November. West now oversees distribution for PGI in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

A high-resolution photograph of Andrea Muller is available upon request.

About Principal Global Investors:

Principal Global Investors is a diversified asset management organization and a member of the Principal Financial Group, with expertise in equities, fixed income and real estate investments, as well as specialized overlay and advisory services. Principal Global Investors manages $215.4 billion² in assets primarily for retirement plans and other institutional clients.

About the Principal Financial Group

The Principal Financial Group^® (The Principal^®)¹ is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance, and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $284.7 billion in assets under management² and serves some 18.9 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

¹ "The Principal Financial Group” and "The Principal” are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.

² As of December 31, 2009 Principal Global Investors is the asset management arm of The Principal and includes the asset management operations of the following subsidiaries of The Principal: Principal Global Investors, LLC; Principal Real Estate Investors, LLC; Spectrum Asset Management, Inc.; Post Advisory Group, LLC; Columbus Circle Investors, Edge Asset Management, Inc.; Morley Financial Services, Inc.; Principal Global Investors (Europe) Limited; Principal Global Investors (Singapore) Ltd.; Principal Global Investors (Australia) Ltd.; Principal Global Investors (Japan) Ltd.; Principal Global Investors (Hong Kong) Ltd.; and the majority owned affiliates of Principal International, Inc.