Tariq Ahmad (left) and Sandeep Singh

Franklin Templeton has appointed Tariq Ahmad, head of Asia-Pacific, and Sandeep Singh, head of Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa ( CEEMEA ) and India, as co-heads of the newly created Global Official Institutions Group.

The investment management firm says the strategic initiative underscores its long-term commitment to serving central banks and sovereign wealth funds globally – a segment that currently represents a US$30 trillion opportunity, according to Global SWF.

In their expanded roles, Ahmad and Singh will focus on building and strengthening relationships with official institutions around the world. In addition to their current responsibilities, their remit will include developing tailored investment solutions aligned with the specific mandates and objectives of each institution in this segment, as well as delivering bespoke thought leadership, knowledge transfer, and customized training programmes.

Franklin Templeton has been serving official institutions for more than 30 years. It says the establishment of the Global Official Institutions Group reflects the growing significance of official institutions as long-term investors set to diversify their reserve currencies and asset classes.

Both Ahmad and Singh bring deep regional expertise and a strong record of partnership-building, which will be instrumental in driving the success of this initiative, the firm says.