Franklin Templeton Investments has appointed Brendan Walsh as SVP/Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Solutions (FTMAS).

Effective 8 October 2018, Walsh will lead the development of the firm’s multi-asset capabilities in the UK, as well as being a key contributor to the asset allocation strategy for investment solutions managed by the multi-asset solutions team. He will be based at Franklin Templeton’s London offices and will report to Thomas Nelson (pictured), SVP/Director of Portfolio Management, FTMAS.
 
With over a decade of experience in multi-asset investing, Walsh brings significant expertise and has an established track-record of developing and managing multi-asset strategies. He joins from Aviva Investors where he was a Multi-Asset Fund Manager. Prior to this, he worked at Standard Life Investments as a Quantitative Analyst in the Multi-Asset Investing Team and Edinburgh Research and Innovation as a Research Project Consultant.
 
Nelson, says: “Brendan’s appointment underscores our commitment to building out our multi-asset capabilities in the UK, which remains a key focus area for the team.  Brendan brings a wealth of experience in developing and managing multi-asset capabilities allowing us to successfully offer investment and product expertise with a strong client engagement framework.”
 
Gilbey, UK Country Head, says: “Pension freedoms have given investors additional choice with their pension savings, presenting an opportunity for the industry to offer more flexible options for generating income to meet the needs of those approaching, or in retirement. 
 
Brendan’s expertise will help us to expand our multi-asset capabilities in the UK and develop appropriate tools for investors in this important and growing area of the market.”
 
Franklin Templeton Multi-Asset Solutions translates a wide variety of investor goals into portfolios powered by Franklin Templeton’s best thinking around the globe. The hallmark of the team’s approach is a central forum – the Investment Strategy and Research Committee – which generates a top-down view across asset classes and regions and connects and synthesises the bottom-up sector and regional insights of the global investment teams at Franklin Templeton.
 
The team features more than 50 multi-asset investment professionals, specialising in strategic asset allocation and tactical positioning, fundamental and quantitative research, active integration and risk management. The platform had more than USD120 billion in assets under management as of 31 March, 2018, and its global reach includes investment offices in Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, London, Milan, Mumbai, New York, San Mateo, Singapore and Toronto.