Jacobi Asset Management, a leading crypto investment management firm, has roped in former BlackRock executive Martin Bednall as its new CEO, effective 1st August 2022.
Launched in May 2021, Jacobi is a European ETF issuer serving the institutional investment market. Jacobi brings together a diverse team of blockchain, technology, investment and regulatory experts deep-rooted in capital markets with a compelling pedigree in distributed ledger technology and digital asset management.
Jacobi is aimig to strengthen its position in the crypto ETF market with Martin in the lead role. With the addition of Martin Bednall, Jacobi gains the experience and expertise of an ETF veteran to continue the firm’s aspirations of being the premier digital asset provider in Europe, building on the listing of Europe’s first Bitcoin ETF.
A cryptocurrency ETF is a fund consisting of cryptocurrencies. While most ETFs track an index or a basket of assets, a cryptocurrency ETF tracks the price of one or more digital assets or tokens.
In the capacity of the CEO, Bednall brings unparalleled expertise in portfolio management, capital markets, operations and exchange-traded product development. Before working as Managing Director at FinEx for the last eight years, Bednall spent over thirteen years in various roles at BlackRock including as the Co-Head iShares Product Team.
Commenting on the appointments, Jacobi Asset Management Chairman Roy McGregor said:
“I want to welcome Martin to the company. I see his appointment as a key step in our journey to bring digital assets into the mainstream investment infrastructure and his experience within ETFs, particularly, as a significant addition to an already deep pool of experience.”
Martin’s predecessor, Jamie Khurshid, will step into a new role as Chairman of the Board while current Chairman Roy McGregor remains as a Director. McGregor also holds the position of Chairman of Jacobi Investment Funds PCC Limited.
Incoming Chairman Jamie Khurshid added:
“Jacobi continues to develop its ambition to become Europe’s dominant digital asset ETF issuer. The launch of the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF is the beginning of an exciting roadmap for digital asset exchange-traded funds suitable for institutional, professional and sophisticated investors.”
Martin Bednall said: “Having the first Bitcoin ETF in Europe gives Jacobi a fantastic base on which to build more products and distribution avenues to provide the market with the institutional grade, regulated digital asset products it needs.”
The Jacobi Bitcoin ETF will launch in August 2022 in line with the new appointments.
Bednall will also continue in his role at FinEx Capital Management.
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