Barclays Global Investors has hired Karen Prooth as managing director and European chief operating officer for ETF provider iShares and the Global Index and Markets Group, which has five components: index equity, cash management, allocations and solutions, transitions management and securities lending. Ms Prooth will report to Rory Tobin, chief executive of iShares and GIMG Europe. She will take responsibility for coordinating the operations, technology and finance functions for iShares and GIMG in Europe. Prior to joining BGI, she was managing director at JP Morgan Asset Management. Her other roles there included head of risk management EMEA, chief operating officer for the international equity and balanced group and head of performance measurement.