SSgA appoints Asian ETF specialist

State Street Global Advisors has appointed former HSBC exchange traded fund (ETF) specialist Frank Henze to the newly-created role of head of ETFs, Asia Pacific.

Henze will oversee SSgA's regional ETF expansion strategy, focusing on increasing the size and visibility of SSgA's range of SPDR ETFs in the Asia Pacific region, the manager stated.

He previously worked with iShares in Europe, which included a position as European head of product development prior to his role in global ETF development at HSBC.

Henze is based in Hong Kong reporting to Bernard Reilly, head of SSgA's Asia Pacific business, and James Ross, senior managing director and global head of ETFs at SSgA.

Reilly said Henze's appointment was a sign of SSgA's dedication to expanding its ETF business.

"His vast experience in strategic planning and product development will drive the expansion of our ETF team as well as our SPDR product footprint in Asia Pacific," he said.

Ross said that it is the team's goal to match State Street's distribution footprint in Asia with tailored SPDR ETF service and support.

SSgA currently has 12 Asia Pacific ETFs listed across Hong Kong, Australia, Japan and Singapore.