BlackRock is making changes at the top in Asia-Pacific pivot

Geraldine
Buckingham, BlackRock’s pick to lead its Asia-Pacific
drive
BlackRock

• US global investment giant BlackRock has appointed
  Geraldine Buckingham as chair and head of BlackRock Asia
  Pacific, as the $6.4 trillion manager continues its
  Asia-Pacific pivot.
• Buckingham, global head of corporate strategy at
  BlackRock, will succeed Ryan Stork from February
  2019.
• The shift comes as BlackRock continues to consider
  Asia-Pacific as one of its “most critical priorities”,
  according to chairman and CEO Larry Fink.

US global investment giant BlackRock has appointed
Geraldine Buckingham as chair and head of BlackRock Asia Pacific,
as the $6.4 trillion manager continues its Asia-Pacific
pivot.

Buckingham formerly served as senior managing director and head
of corporate strategy, and will now be placed at the center of
BlackRock’s Asia-Pacific push.

Buckingham replaces current APAC chair and senior managing
director Ryan Stork who will now be the company’s deputy global
chief operating officer.

The move comes as BlackRock continues to consider the
Asia-Pacificas “one of BlackRock’s most critical priorities,”
chairman and chief executive Larry Fink said
in a letter to shareholders.

BlackRock is in the process of massively augmenting its
so-called investor-stewardship
initiative, with Barbara
Novick, a vice chairman who helped found BlackRock,
leading a push that will double the team over the next three
years.

In August, the investment giant closed out its
Asia-Pacific Private Credit Opportunities Fund, which
is keeping an eye on potentially opportunistic
investing in distressed deals in appropriate APAC countries,
including India, Indonesia, and Australia.

“We aim to have a truly local presence in Asia so we can respond
to the unique needs, objectives, and cultures of our clients in
each market,” Fink said in his statement.

Such is the sway of a BlackRock on the move, Fink
brought this year’s annual DAVOS economic forum at the Swiss Alps
to a grinding halt by sending a letter to global CEO’s
asking simply if their companies can “describe their
strategy for long-term growth.”

Both appointments come into effect in February.