Franklin Templeton grows EMEA ETF distribution team with ex-UBS hire

Franklin Templeton has named Giovanna Cilia, as ETF sales specialist for Switzerland, effective 1 February 2024.

Reporting to Caroline Baron, head of ETF Distribution, EMEA, Cilia will be based in Zurich. In this newly created position, she will lead business development efforts for Franklin Templeton’s UCITS ETF2 platform - Franklin Templeton ICAV - in Switzerland.

She will work closely with local and regional distribution teams and will focus on leveraging existing relationships to engage clients on the firm’s ETF proposition whilst also identifying pure ETF buyers in that market.

Baron said: “Swiss professional investors are significant users of ETFs and Franklin Templeton has been established in Switzerland since 1997. Having a dedicated ETF sales specialist there will help address the needs of local institutional and wholesale investors and further boost Franklin Templeton’s ETF business in the EMEA region. With Giovanna’s significant experience in distribution, we are well positioned to continue our growth in Switzerland and are thrilled to have her on board.”

Christian Leger, head of distribution – Switzerland, said: “Giovanna has a wealth of experience and a strong knowledge and understanding of the Swiss ETF market. She will be a strong addition to the Swiss distribution team who look forward to working closely with her.”

Cilia brings over three decades of international financial services experience to her new role, including time at Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan (both in London) and Eurex Zürich AG.

Most recently, Cilia was a Senior ETF Sales Specialist at UBS AG in Zurich covering professional and institutional clients in Suisse Romande and Ticino leveraging her language skills.

Baron added: “Our ETF business in EMEA has grown from strength to strength since the launch in 2017, with strong client adoption of the ETF vehicle across Europe, which is why we continue expanding our team. Last year, we welcomed three new colleagues across product, capital markets and distribution functions, and our ETF distribution team in EMEA is now present in all of the core territories with potential plans to expand the team further in 2024.”