ETF giant iShares preps for IFA push

Newly-acquired ETF provider iShares has hired former Invesco Perpetual client guru Julian Hince to step up its engagement with IFAs.

Hince will be business development director and responsible for briefing the adviser community through masterclasses and IFA programmes.

He will also be charged with improving access to ETFs via third party platforms as well as via the intermediary channel.

Previously, Hince served as client relationship director at Invesco Perpetual and, more recently, as head of strategic partners at Gartmore, where he had responsibility for both its IFA and third party channel.

"Julian's appointment reflects iShares' conviction that ETFs are gaining in popularity and generating increasing interest from the intermediary community," Andrea Morresi, head of sales at iShares Europe, says.

"Given that ETFs are low-cost, efficient and transparent products, IFAs have a significant role to play advising clients on how they work and how they can be used to their best advantage."

Earlier this month, BlackRock agreed to buy Barclays Global Investors (BGI), including iShares, in a cash and shares deal worth $13.5bn (£8.15bn).

Reports suggest the firm will look more at actively managed ETFs, an area in which it previously had little interest.

scott.sinclair@incisivemedia.com