US-based investment firm, BlackRock has announced a major expansion in the region, naming several executives to focus on its business in Asia-Pacific and the Pacific Rim.
Recent BlackRock arrival Peter Fisher has been made chairman of Blackrock's Asian businesses, where he will be responsible for execution of its strategies in Asia. As part of the new role, Fisher will direct new business development for both investment management and BlackRock solutions, while also overseeing local trading and potential portfolio management initiatives.
The job also sees Fisher acting as BlackRock's senior representative to regulatory authorities and local business communities.
He takes on the Asian role after most recently serving as a managing director and a member of BlackRock's management committee.
Prior to joining the firm in 2004, Fisher was under-secretary to the US Treasury Department from 2001 to 2003, in which capacity he also served as the treasury board's representative to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) and a member of the Board of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Outside of the US Treasury Department, Fisher spent 15 years with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he ended with the title of executive vice president.
Also joining the firm in the region is Winnie Pun, who assumes the role of managing director with responsibility for leading BlackRock's account management activities in Asia ex-Japan from Hong Kong. Pun moves from State Street Global Advisors in Hong Kong, where she was principal and director of investments.
In Japan, the firm's operations remain in the hands of Hiro Arita, who will also continue leading its joint venture with Nomura Asset Management, Nomura BlackRock Asset Management.
Presently, BlackRock manages over $27 billion for Asia-based clients and provides risk analytics for Asian institutions through its risk management arm BlackRock Solutions.
