Singapore: Global asset manager Franklin Templeton has appointed Rene Buehlmann as Head of Asia Pacific, effective September 21, 2026, as the firm strengthens its leadership team to accelerate growth across one of its key strategic regions.
In his new role, Buehlmann will lead Franklin Templeton’s business across the Asia Pacific region, overseeing strategic growth initiatives, client engagement and business development. He will work across the firm’s extensive regional network, which includes more than 2,600 employees spanning Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Japan, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Korea, Australia and other markets.
Buehlmann brings more than 35 years of experience across wealth management, asset management and banking. Most recently, he advised KKR on strategic acquisition opportunities in the wealth and asset management sector. Prior to that, he served as Global Chief Executive Officer of Aberdeen Investments, where he led the firm’s global investment business while overseeing the Asia Pacific region.
Earlier in his career, Buehlmann spent nearly three decades at UBS, including 15 years in Asia Pacific, where he held several senior leadership positions, including Head of Asset Management Asia Pacific and member of the regional Executive Committee.
Announcing the appointment, Daniel Gamba, Co-President and Chief Commercial Officer, Franklin Templeton, said, “The appointment of Rene reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to growing our leadership team and investing in Asia Pacific. Rene is a highly respected industry leader with deep client relationships, extensive regional experience and a proven track record of building high-performing teams and delivering growth. His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to expand our capabilities and strengthen our partnerships with clients across the region.”
Commenting on his appointment, Rene Buehlmann, Head of Asia Pacific, Franklin Templeton, said, “I am delighted to join Franklin Templeton and lead the Asia Pacific business at such an exciting time for the firm and the region. Franklin Templeton has built a highly differentiated global platform, further strengthened in recent years through the expansion of its ETF, private markets and digital asset capabilities. Asia Pacific offers tremendous growth opportunities, and I look forward to working with our talented teams to deepen client relationships, deliver the full breadth of our platform across the region, and help investors achieve their long-term financial goals.”
A strong advocate of talent development and inclusive leadership, Buehlmann has lived and worked across Switzerland, the United States, Hong Kong and Singapore. He holds a TRIUM Global Executive MBA jointly awarded by New York University, the London School of Economics and HEC Paris, is a Swiss-certified banking expert with a Federal Diploma, and has completed executive programmes at IMD and Columbia Business School.
