FTSE Group has established an exchange-traded products service unit to expand its product and service offering and build on its local support for ETP and exchange-traded fund clients globally.
FTSE, the world’s third-largest equity ETF index provider, has seen its ETF-related assets under management grow fivefold over the past three years, driven by the success of products such as iShares’ FTSE China A50 Fund ETFs, Vanguard’s All-World ex US Fund, and global real estate ETFs based on the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Index.
Earlier this month, Vanguard announced that it will switch six international equity ETFs to FTSE benchmarks, replacing MSCI. The switch includes Vanguard’s Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund and its associated ETF (VWO), the world’s largest emerging markets ETF. With the transition, some USD124bn in ETF assets are now indexed to FTSE benchmarks.
The new service unit brings together dedicated research and relationship management resources, who will work closely with clients to develop ETP index solutions across a variety of asset classes and geographies.
“As one of the world’s largest index providers, we are determined to significantly increase our share of the global ETP benchmark market,” says Mark Makepeace (pictured), chief executive, FTSE Group. “The creation of FTSE’s new dedicated ETP service unit is the latest step in a strategy designed to deliver the best possible index and service solutions to our clients globally.”
The unit will be led by Jonathan Horton, president, FTSE North America. Supporting Horton will be New York-based Marc De Luise, director of ETP product solutions, and Kristen Mierzwa, director of ETP relationships, North America. London-based Sudir Raju assumes the role of managing director, ETP relationships EMEA. A further appointment in the Asia-Pacific region will be announced shortly.
