Starting in August, both Bucaro and Walsh will be part of the APAC leadership team, supporting Tariq Ahmad and Matt Harrison, co-heads of APAC, the firm said.

Based in Singapore, Bucaro will be responsible for driving the growth of the firm’s retail business in Asia, ex-Japan and India.

In this newly-created role, he will have oversight and responsibility for existing regional and country teams to develop and implement client solutions and strategies across Asia, the firm added. Clement Lee, head of retail sales, Southeast Asia and Simon Wong, head of retail sales, Greater China, will both report to Bucaro.

Bucaro has over 19 years of experience in retail and institutional business development roles in Europe and Asia. Prior to joining Franklin Templeton, Bucaro was most recently the Singapore CEO and MD, head of strategic distributors relationships, APAC at BNP Paribas Asset Management.

Welcoming him to the firm, Tariq Ahmad, co-head of APAC at Franklin Templeton said: “His leadership and extensive experience in business development and relationship management will help us scale new heights, as we aim to deliver long-term value to our clients.”

“With changing client expectations and their evolving investment journey in Asia, he will spearhead our retail sales efforts to better serve our clients as we continue to expand in the region,” he added.

Felicity Walsh, currently head of sales at Franklin Templeton Australia and New Zealand, will take on an expanded role as managing director and head of Australia and New Zealand, the firm said.

In her new role, Walsh will provide executive oversight of sales, marketing, client services and product strategy. She will provide direction on business strategy, product innovation and customised investment solutions to cater to shifting client needs in the market. Walsh will continue to assume direct client responsibilities in the Australia and New Zealand markets and act as key conduit to local and global investment teams, the firm added.

Matt Harrison, co-head of APAC at Franklin Templeton said: “Australia and New Zealand are key markets for Franklin Templeton, not just for the APAC region but globally. She and her team will have a key role to play as we continue to expand our business in a market that is set for exponential growth.”

Walsh has been with Franklin Templeton since 2015, initially as managing director at K2 Advisors, a hedge fund specialist investment management team within Franklin Templeton and then head of sales for Franklin Templeton Australia and New Zealand. Prior to Franklin Templeton, Walsh spent 11 years at Towers Watson (now Willis Towers Watson) in the UK and Australia working with some of the world’s largest pension and superannuation funds in both markets, the firm stressed.

The California-based global investment manager has $1.4 trillion in assets under management.