People Moves
Vanguard Names New Asia Chief
The unlisted firm is one of the world's largest asset managers and this year marks 20 years of business in the Asia region.
Vanguard, the
US-based asset manager overseeing $6.2 trillion in AuM as at the
end of January, has appointed Scott Conking as head of its Asia
business. Conking, principal and head of the firm’s US-based
Institutional Investor Services, will join its international
leadership team and report to James Norris, head of Vanguard’s
international operations.
Conking will assume responsibility for management, distribution,
and operations of Vanguard’s Asia business, and oversee offices
in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo. He succeeds Axel
Lomholt, who has served as interim head of Vanguard Asia since 31
December last year.
Working at the firm since 1984, Conking oversees a team of
investment and client service professionals who serve US-based
defined contribution, defined benefit, corporate asset,
endowment, and foundation clients. During his 36-year Vanguard
career, Conking has held a range of leadership positions across
the firm’s individual investor, institutional, retirement, and
corporate operations. He has led Vanguard’s Retirement Plan
Client Services, Corporate Strategy Group, and the firm’s
training and development organisation, Vanguard University. He
earned a BBA from Temple University and an MBA from Villanova
University.
“Scott is a seasoned Vanguard leader with an impressive range of
experience across many critical functions for the company,”
Norris said. “He is uniquely qualified to lead the next chapter
of our growth in Asia, and further our mission of giving
investors the best chance for investment success.”
The firm trumpeted its Asia business focus, saying this year
marks the 20th anniversary of Vanguard’s operations in the
region, which began with the opening of the firm’s office in
Tokyo in 2000.
Most recently, Vanguard announced a joint venture with China’s
Ant Financial to make wealth management advisory services more
inclusive and accessible to retail investors in China.
