Move sharpens ASB wealth strategy
ASB has appointed experienced fund manager Frank Jasper (pictured) to the newly created role of chief investment officer, signalling a strategic move to deepen its in-house investment management capabilities.
The appointment marks a significant step for ASB’s wealth business as it looks to build on its strong recent performance and navigate a complex investment landscape.
Decades of investment experience
Jasper brings more than two decades of experience in investment management, including previous roles as senior portfolio manager and chief investment officer at Fisher Funds.
He officially joined ASB in June and has been a member of the ASB investment committee since 2022.
Strengthening global partnership with BlackRock
In his new role, Jasper will work closely with ASB’s long-standing investment partner BlackRock, leveraging the firm’s international expertise and scale.
Since July 2021, ASB has partnered with BlackRock for asset allocation and currency management across all managed funds, including KiwiSaver, covering $20 billion in investments.
“I look forward to building on ASB’s strong investment track record, working alongside BlackRock to continue to deliver strong returns for our clients in a rapidly changing environment,” Jasper said.
“Delivering strong investment returns is only part of the puzzle to unlock greater wealth for Kiwi. I am very passionate about helping our clients, and all New Zealanders, to feel empowered to make better investment decisions, which will have a great long-term impact on their finances.”
Supporting strong performance and future growth
Emma-Jayne Liddy, ASB general manager wealth, welcomed Jasper’s appointment and noted his impact would be timely given recent market volatility and regulatory change.
“Frank is a fantastic addition to the ASB team, bringing valuable experience and perspective both from his role on our investment committee and beyond, and is joining at a critical time for this part of the business,” Liddy said.
“It’s an exciting time for our wealth business. We are proud of our strong investment track record, with the Morningstar KiwiSaver Survey placing our 12-month returns in the top quartile across all our diversified funds as at 31 March 2025.”
She also highlighted that ASB’s Growth, Balanced, and Moderate KiwiSaver funds ranked first for one-year returns in the MJW 2025 Investment Survey, and the bank was named a finalist for Fund Manager of the Year in the Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence.
Navigating change with confidence
Liddy said Jasper’s leadership would be key to helping ASB customers make informed decisions amid a volatile global economy and changes to KiwiSaver settings.
“With a volatile market, the recent changes to KiwiSaver announced by the Government, and an uncertain geopolitical environment, it’s important for our clients and all New Zealanders to have confidence in their investments,” she said.
“We have a big role to play here and we’re looking forward to Frank’s leadership and expertise to help set the business up to deliver on its ambition.”
