Understanding Tomorrow, Today

From curating alternative investments solutions to partnering with fintech platforms—Franklin Templeton takes a dynamic approach to ever‑evolving markets

“My alarm usually goes off before 5 am,” says Tariq Ahmad, Franklin Templeton’s co‑head of Asia‑Pacific, on how he starts his day. “From a young age, the early mornings have been a natural fit for me. Now, I use the time to think, absorb market news from the US and Europe, fit in a session at the gym and prepare for the day as we focus on the strategic priorities for our clients across Apac. We’re busy but energised, and the morning provides that excitement of the day to come.”

To say it has been a busy 24 months for Ahmad and the firm is an understatement. Ahmad’s recent appointment as co‑head of Apac aside, Franklin Templeton will be celebrating the two‑year anniversary of its acquisition of Legg Mason—one that was predominantly done virtually and during the height of the Covid‑19 pandemic. The firm also concluded several acquisitions recently and has had to deal with the market turmoil of late. Ahmad shares, though, that the sense of focus and determination to offer evolving solutions to client partners have always remained the ethos of Franklin Templeton. “We’re a pure play asset management firm with more than 75 years as an independent investment manager and over 30 years in Asia,” he says. “Our priority is always on generating investment returns for our clients while managing risk. We’re not part of a larger banking or insurance group, so we have the luxury of dedicating ourselves to optimising solutions for our clients in this ever‑changing investment landscape.”