Franklin Templeton Announces Leadership Roles in Consultant Relations

Ashton will oversee consultant/gatekeeper relations and investment research for international advisory services. As head of the international consultant and research group, he will focus on Franklin Templeton’s global consulting partners and cross-border financial institutions outside North America, working with Franklin Templeton distribution teams across its international offices. Effective August, he will move from his current role as senior director for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA), to his new position. He will report to Jed Plafker, president of Franklin Templeton International and head of International Advisory Services.

Dennis Rothe will be head of the North America consultant and research group. Earlier this year, he was appointed to an expanded role overseeing consultant relations and investment research for broker/dealers, retirement platforms and insurance companies across North America. Rothe reports to Peter Jones, president of Franklin Templeton Distributors Inc. and Franklin Templeton Institutional LLC; Jones has overall responsibility for the North American Advisory Services division.

Ashton and Rothe will work closely; both have been with Franklin Templeton for 15 years.

“With the increasing complexity and globalization of our business, and the ongoing importance of institutional and gatekeeper driven business, it is essential that we continue to meet the evolving needs of global consultants, global distributors, broker-dealers and retirement platforms,” Plafker said. “We are delighted to have Andrew and Dennis in these new leadership roles, which effectively position Franklin Templeton with the growing consultant and gatekeeper community.”

“Gatekeepers and consultants are leading indicators of product demand, and the conduit to shareholders and clients,” Jones said. “Andrew, Dennis and their teams are uniquely positioned to monitor the product landscape, further raise awareness of Franklin Templeton’s diverse global product offerings, and leverage best practices across the institutional and retail markets.”

Franklin Templeton also announced that effective August, Adam Quaife will become senior director for Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, succeeding Ashton. Quaife will report to Vivek Kudva, managing director, India and CEEMEA. Previously, Quaife was sales director and head of Institutional for Franklin Templeton Investments Australia.