FRANKLIN Templeton has hired Rahul Bhalla as its new head of Asia ETF (exchange-traded funds) distribution. The move marks the global investment firm’s foray into the Asian ETF market, it said in a press statement on Tuesday (Oct 18).

In this newly-created role, Bhalla will work with the regional distribution team to drive growth and raise the profile of Franklin Templeton’s ETF business in Asia, including developing and implementing the firm’s long-term ETF business strategy for the region.

He reports to Franklin Templeton’s head of global ETFs, Patrick O’Connor, in partnership with APAC co-heads Tariq Ahmad and Matt Harrison.

Before Franklin Templeton, Bhalla was the head of AMICORP Asset Management in Singapore. He also held stints as head of business development at IHS Markit Asia-Pacific and head of South Asia at Vanguard Investments.

Franklin Templeton said its global ETF platform has about US$12 billion in assets under management as at Sep 30, 2022.