Director, APAC Institutional Client Business - COO Team

About this role

Institutional Client Business Overview

The APAC Institutional Client Business (ICB) partners with the region’s largest and most sophisticated asset owners, including sovereign wealth funds, insurers, banks, and pension funds, to understand their evolving needs and translate them into commercial opportunities for BlackRock. We deliver the full breadth of the firm’s capabilities across public markets, ETFs, and alternatives, underpinned by market‑leading technology, data, and risk analytics.

Our team operates across Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Australia, South Korea, and Japan, and collaborates closely with global partners to bring the best of BlackRock to institutional investors in APAC.

Role Purpose / Background

BlackRock’s APAC Institutional business is seeking a high‑impact Director to join the ICB COO team in Hong Kong. This is a critical leadership role at the center of business strategy, commercial execution, sales enablement, and regional business management. The Director will serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the ICB APAC COO and Head of APAC ICB, shaping priorities for one of the firm’s most important growth franchises.

The role requires a seasoned operator who can help lead efforts to transform sales productivity, scalability, and governance through the adoption and advancement of AI and technology tools across APAC ICB as we look to achieve our ambitious growth goals while scaling operating leverage. The position involves extensive engagement with senior sales leaders, product teams, investment teams, operations, and global partners to ensure cohesive and disciplined execution against our ambitious growth plans.

This role offers a unique opportunity to influence business direction at scale, lead high‑visibility initiatives, and help orchestrate BlackRock’s engagement with some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated investors. The position reports to the COO & Head of Business Strategy for APAC Institutional.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership, Client Insights & Sales Enablement

• Drive disciplined sales planning and commercial governance, translating strategic priorities into measurable execution outcomes.

• Partner with country and segment leaders to strengthen account planning and drive consistent commercial performance across the region.

• Define and drive APAC ICB strategy for clients’ insights and intelligence, with clear focus on scaling impact and usage of AI tools and the Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform, to:

  (1) Drive commercial outcomes through the conversion of internal (RM inputs) and external (databases, news) data to strategic and competitive insights.

  (2) Increase RM efficiency through a reduction in time spent on non-sales activities.

  (3) Improve sales planning and reporting accuracy and efficiency.

• Grow adoption of Microsoft Dynamics CRM platform and AI tools through effective internal education, promotion, and governance.

• Lead regional efforts to advance the firm’s AI and technology agenda for sales improving scalability, efficiency, market intelligence, and client engagement.

• Work with regional leadership to determine and track metrics of success for AI and technology adoption, usage, and outcomes for APAC ICB team.

Business Management

• Produce board‑quality reporting, presentations, memos, and briefing materials for senior management committees, conferences, and oversee weekly GEC updates.
• Lead core business management activities, including sales performance tracking, resource planning, expense management and informing investment and budgeting decisions.
• Manage special initiatives and high‑priority cross‑regional projects on behalf of APAC ICB leadership.

​Operational Excellence & Process Transformation

• Identify and drive opportunities to streamline processes, enhance automation, and build scalable regional operating frameworks.
• Anticipate and mitigate risks by establishing strong controls, governance, and escalation mechanisms.
• Foster cohesion across APAC markets by supporting local teams and enabling consistent execution across a diverse institutional client landscape.
• Represent ICB APAC in risk committees and global platform initiatives.

Oversight of the APAC ex‑Japan RFP Function

• Provide senior leadership and strategic direction for the regional RFP function.
• Partner with the Head of the RFP team to define and advance a strategy that enhances quality, efficiency, and consistency in RFP delivery. In particular defining a plan to further leverage technology.
• Ensure global alignment in best practices and manage relationships with partner teams responsible for content maintenance or delivery to achieve strategic goals.

Experience & Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in financial services, asset management, strategy, consulting, COO/business management, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at senior levels, synthesizing insights into clear recommendations for senior leadership.
• Strong analytical capabilities, with comfort managing data, interpreting trends, and using quantitative insights to guide decisions.
• Advanced PowerPoint and executive writing skills; proven ability to produce high‑quality strategic materials at pace.
• Strong understanding of the institutional market landscape and core investment offerings (public markets, ETFs, alternatives).
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across functions, regions, and seniority levels.
• High personal accountability, strong judgement, and a track record of driving complex initiatives to completion.
• Rigorous attention to detail, integrity, and discretion; thrives in a fast‑paced, high‑stakes environment.
• Strong people‑leadership skills, with a track record of coaching, advancing, and retaining high‑performing talent.

Our benefits
To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.