Institutions and wealth managers in Asia propel outsourced-CIO demand in an uncertain world

[SINGAPORE] Institutional investors and wealth managers in Asia are increasingly turning to providers of outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) services, as they seek to broaden their portfolio allocations and benefit from cost savings, experts said.

Also, unlike in North America and the UK, the OCIO market in Asia is not dominated by corporate pension funds. It is driven by government-related institutions and the wealth segment, they told The Business Times.

The global OCIO industry trebled in size over 10 years, growing from around US$1 trillion in 2015 to more than US$3.3 trillion by Dec 31, 2024, according to asset management research firm Cerulli Associates.