Blackrock hires lead a busy day of People on the Move

BlackRock hires always generate headlines.

The latest high-profile news is that the world’s largest asset manager has appointed Manish Mehta to the role of global head of human resources. Reuters first reported the news after accessing a company memo. He will also join the company’s global executive committee and will report to BlackRock head Larry Fink.

Mehta moves up from his previous role. He was the global head of ETFs and Index Investments (EII) Markets and Investments.

Mehta will replace Rob Fairbairn, who has served as interim HR chief since July. Fairbairn took over the job temporarily after the departure of HR leader Jeff Smith.

BlackRock head Fink reportedly considered several candidates. “Through his work in EII, Manish has garnered experience across a range of BlackRock functions, from markets and investments to technology and operations,” Fink said in the memo.

Here are other people on the move this week.

BlackRock Hires New Impact Leader

BlackRock has hired the former head of impact investing at Wellington Management to take over as the lead on active equities impact investing. Eric Rice spent 20 years at Wellington and left the company on October 3. There, he managed the firm’s $4.5 million Hartford Global Impact fund.

New Alternative Investment Jobs

• Next, Treehouse Real Estate Investment Trust announced on Friday that David Smith is the firm’s new executive vice president and CFO. Smith was previously a managing director at the firm’s private equity group. He comes over from his roles EVP and CFO of the New Senior Investment Group. In the new role, Smith will focus on expanding Treehouse’s platform for accounting, tax, finance, and investor relations.
• Meanwhile, Ashburton Investments, the asset management arm of the FirstRand group, has appointed Sizwe Nxedlana to the role of CEO. Nxedlana has replaced former CEO, Boshoff Grobler, who, in September, moved to a new role in FirstRand Group Treasury. Nxedlana previously served as CEO of FNB’s Wealth and Investment group.
• Also, the Texas cryptocurrency venture capital firm Multicoin Capital has hired a new investment Principal. The firm has tapped Tony Sheng Kyle Samani, a former Google product manager, to the firm’s leadership. The firm sees the hire as a way to expand its client base.

Former Standard Chartered Head On the Move

• Meanwhile, Intermediate Capital Group has named Lord Mervyn Davies as chairman-designate. Davis is the former chairman and CEO of Standard Chartered from 2001 to 2006. The €38.6 billion alternative assets manager named Davis to replace Kevin Parry, who is stepping down. Davies is chairman of private equity giant Corsair Capital and senior independent director at Diageo.
• Finally, Northern Ireland now has a new fintech envoy. The British government hired Arity director Andrew Jenkins to the role. He will focus on marketing Northern Ireland’s fintech industry. He will replace Georgina O’Leary.