Barclays Global Investors (BGI) has appointed James Blair as Head of Official Institutions, Asia Ex Japan.
Barclays Global Investors (BGI) has appointed James Blair as Head of Official Institutions, Asia Ex Japan.

Blair, who will be based in Singapore, is responsible for managing the segment of BGI's institutional business that focuses on central banks, government investment agencies and state pension funds in the region.

'This is a strategic hire which will give additional focus on this key client sector, a core part of BGI's business in Asia.' says Jonathan Pye, Head of Distribution, Asia Ex Japan. 

Mark Talbot, CEO for Asia Ex Japan adds: 'Adding people like James, with a wealth of experience managing money in the region, will mean we are able to provide innovative solutions and the highest level of service to these sophisticated clients.'

Blair brings 15 years of investment and business development experience to BGI. Previously he worked for Fidelity Investments in Hong Kong, where he was Director of Fixed Income responsible for building the fixed income sales and marketing franchise across Asia. Prior to that, he was Head of Fixed Income - Asia, at Aberdeen Asset Management.

Background notes: Barclays Global Investors is one of the world's largest asset managers providing structured investment strategies such as risk-controlled active strategies and indexing. BGI manages 65% of the world's 100 largest pension plans and is the global leader in assets and products in exchange traded funds through its iShares brand with 180 ETFs. The firm managed over USD 1.6 trillion in assets as of 30 June 2006, for more than 2,800 clients in 52 countries around the world. BGI is a majority-owned subsidiary of Barclays.