Lazard Asset Management has announced Robert Forsyth as the new global head of ETFs to drive the development and expansion of the firm’s active ETF platform.
Based in New York, Forsyth joins Lazard Asset Management from State Street Global Advisors, where he was most recently the global head of ETF Strategy. During his time at State Street Global Advisors, he held various leadership roles in product strategy, investment, and sales for the company’s trillion-dollar ETF business.
“We are continuously evolving our platform so that more clients can access our leading investment strategies. Building and expanding an active ETF platform is a key step in our plans, and Rob will play an important role in accelerating our ambitions. Throughout his career, Rob has distinguished himself as a leader capable of building, scaling, and distributing exchange-traded products that resonate with a broad range of investors. We look forward to leveraging the breadth of his skills and experience to advance our vision and objectives,” said Evan Russo, CEO of Lazard Asset Management.
Forsyth has developed a deep understanding of the ETF ecosystem over more than 20 years of working with exchange-traded products. At Lazard, he will report to Jennifer Ryan, head of distribution in North America, and work closely with the firm’s leadership team to build its ETF offering, the statement adds.
“The opportunity to join Lazard and help this historic firm build its active ETF platform is unique,” said Forsyth.
In June 2024, Lazard Asset Management launched its first ETF product, the Lazard Global Listed Infrastructure Active ETF, for Australian investors. The firm plans to continue building on this launch, along with a new sub-advised ETF mandate in the U.S.
Lazard offers clients a range of active equity and fixed-income products through mutual funds, UCITS, and SMAs. In addition to offering prominent active strategies in the U.S., the firm has long been a leader in providing global, international, and emerging markets strategies for its global client base, according to the statement obtained by *Funds Society*.
This appointment is the latest in a series of high-level hires for Lazard Asset Management. The firm’s plan to build its ETF platform is part of its ongoing strategy to develop products and solutions that continue to evolve Lazard’s investment platform and distribution capabilities.
