Bob Doll named chief equity strategist in BlackRock shuffle

Robert Doll has the new title of chief equity strategist for BlackRock's fundamental equities platform, one of a number of changes the money management giant announced internally today. Mr. Doll will continue to manage BlackRock's U.S. Large-Cap Series portfolios, lead the “internal investment debate” within the fundamental equities division and be the point man for clients and the media on questions of broad equity strategy, according to the announcement. Quintin Price, chief investment officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa, assumed Mr. Doll's role as head of fundamental equity, overseeing portfolio management, trading and management of the investment staff, while setting the fundamental equity business' priorities and strategic direction. He will retain his previous responsibilities as CIO of EMEA. Paul Walker-Duncalf was named head of fundamental equity trading, a new position with global responsibility to ensure best execution and minimal trading costs as equity trading becomes increasingly global in nature. Mr. Walker-Duncalf will retain his responsibilities as head of international fundamental equity trading. Jon Clark, head of fundamental equity trading for the Americas, will report to Mr. Walker-Duncalf. As of February, BlackRock's active fundamental equities business had $210 billion in assets overseen by 240 investment professionals. BlackRock also announced personnel changes in its quantitative scientific active equity platform, which has $145 billion in client assets and 170 investment professionals globally. Morry Waked , chief investment officer of scientific active equity as well as the head of BlackRock's Australia SAE business, will be leaving the firm by the third quarter of 2010. A BlackRock spokesman had no information on Mr. Waked's plans. Blake Grossman, a vice chairman at BlackRock overseeing the businesses the company obtained through its recent acquisition of Barclays Global Investors, assumed Mr. Waked's role as CIO as well as the hands-on role of head of BlackRock's scientific active equity group. He will continue overseeing the firm's index equity, capital markets, global market strategies and multiasset client solutions businesses, each led by its own management team. Andrew Jackson has taken on Mr. Waked's other role as head of BlackRock's Australia SAE business.