J.P. Morgan Asset Management hires industry veteran as chief ETF strategist

With demand for exchange-traded funds growing globally, J.P. Morgan Asset Management has added a heavyweight veteran to its team in New York.

The firm has hired industry veteran Jon Maier as its chief ETF strategist and leader of its ETF Insights program which offers thought leadership and resources for the ETF universe. The firm’s global ETF business has grown to more than $160 billion in AUM over the past five years, although it recently announced that two of its socially conscious funds will be liquidated by the end of the year.

Maier has more than 30 years in research roles and has strong credentials in the ETF space, having served as chief investment officer for ETFs at Global X, and managing director and ETF strategist at Merrill Lynch, where he oversaw management of $50 billion.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the J.P. Morgan Asset Management ETF team," Maier said. "The work that the firm has achieved is second to none, and I look forward to using my experience and skill set to contribute to its growth. Through the ETF Insights program, we are focused on being investors' go-to source for timely views and innovative strategies, fostering the continued adoption and use of, specifically, actively managed, ETFs."

Maier will report to Bryon Lake, global head of ETF Solutions at J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

"Very few in the industry have the tangible, hands-on experience in the way that Jon has, and we believe that all investors will benefit from his deep knowledge and development of this platform,” Lake said.

Recent data show that the global ETF market boasted nearly 8,990 ETFs as of the end of 2023, with North America claiming a dominant 51.1% share. Assets under management soared to $11 trillion globally, with North American ETF assets jumping from $2.02 trillion in 2014 to $8.43 trillion in 2023.