New global iShares head at BlackRock

Mike Latham has been named global head of BlackRock's iShares exchange-traded-fund business, a new position, confirmed spokeswoman Bobbie Collins. Mr. Latham, a managing director, was head of iShares North America, while Rory Tobin, also a managing director, was the head of iShares International. Mr. Tobin has left the company to pursue other business opportunities, Ms. Collins said; she would not elaborate, and efforts to reach Mr. Tobin were unsuccessful. The global position is part of a restructuring the company announced Friday to better pursue the global development of BlackRock's industry-leading ETF business, she said. Under the previous structure, Mr. Tobin also led iShares business development for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, with Nick Good, managing director and head of iShares Asia-Pacific, and Daniel Gamba, managing director and head of iShares Latin America, both reporting to him. Messrs. Good and Gamba will now report to Mr. Latham, as will Joe Linhares, managing director and new head of iShares EMEA, a new position. Mr. Linhares was head of U.S. sales for the iShares business. Ms. Collins said information on his replacement was not immediately available. A replacement for Mr. Latham as head of iShares North America has yet to be named, Ms. Collins said. Mr. Appell is a reporter for Pensions & Investments, a sister publication to InvestmentNews