Rachel Lord will step into the role of chair and head of BlackRock’s APAC business, based in Hong Kong. Ms Lord was previously head of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and is the global executive sponsor of the Women’s Initiative Network.
“The appointment of one of the firm’s strongest leaders to head up our APAC business underscores our commitment to this fast-growing region as a top strategic priority for BlackRock,” said Mark Wiedman, head of international and corporate strategy.
“Rachel has piloted growth in assets and revenue in a complex EMEA region undergoing economic and regulatory shifts, while taking BlackRock deeper into local markets. I am excited to see Rachel’s experience and expertise and her track record in Asia paired with the strong regional leadership already in place to advance our business.”
Ms Lord joined BlackRock from Citigroup in 2013, where she served as global head of corporate equity derivatives. Prior to that she spent 13 years at Morgan Stanley, where she held a number of senior roles across the equities and capital markets businesses in London and Hong Kong. She is a qualified chartered accountant and holds BA (hons) first class in international history & politics from the University of Leeds.
“We are rapidly transforming our business to match APAC investors’ aspirations. Who we are and what we offer must reflect the region and its needs, so the opportunity to accelerate BlackRock’s APAC business over the next decade is a game changer,” Ms Lord said.
“I have seen first-hand how our business really takes flight when we get closer to our clients. When I think about what BlackRock can look like in APAC 10, 20 years from now – it’s exciting. APAC is truly one of the most diverse and dynamic regions in the world, and I cannot wait to start.”
