Vanguard Appoints Former BlackRock Executive Salim Ramji As New CEO

Investment management giant Vanguard has announced the appointment of Salim Ramji, a former executive from BlackRock BLK known for his Bitcoin BTC/USD friendly stance, as its new CEO and board member, effective July 8.

What Happened: Ramji, with 25 years of industry experience, previously headed BlackRock's global exchange-traded fund (ETF) business and was instrumental in launching the iShares Bitcoin Trust IBIT in the U.S.

He left BlackRock in January to pursue new leadership opportunities.

“It’s an honor to join Vanguard, an institution I have long admired and respected,” Ramji stated on Tuesday. “I am drawn to Vanguard because of the firm’s clarity and consistency of purpose and am very excited to get to work and partner with the outstanding leadership team to lead the company into the future.”

Ramji emphasized the evolving investment landscape and Vanguard's mission to enhance investor success.

"The current investor landscape is changing, and that presents opportunities for Vanguard to further its mission of giving people the best chance for investment success, which is more relevant today than at any time in the firm’s five-decade history. My focus will be to mobilize Vanguard to meet the moment while staying true to that core purpose — remaining the trusted firm that takes a stand for all investors," he added.

Ramji will succeed Tim Buckley, who is set to retire and step down as both Chairman and CEO of Vanguard on the effective date.

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Mark Loughridge, Vanguard’s Lead Independent Director, will assume the role of non-executive Chairman.

Reflecting on Ramji's appointment, Buckley remarked, “I have worked with Salim on the Executive Committee of the Investment Company Institute. He cares about advancing the interests of individual investors, has a strong fiduciary ethos, and thinks strategically about solutions.

Salim understands our organization’s deep sense of purpose and commitment to put clients first, which is a hallmark of Vanguard’s leadership team and culture.”

The selection of Ramji is notable given Vanguard's historical resistance to Bitcoin.

Earlier this year, users with brokerage accounts at Vanguard were restricted from purchasing U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs, unlike many of its competitors.

What’s Next: The broader implications of Ramji's appointment and its potential impact on Vanguard's approach to cryptocurrency will be a key topic at Benzinga’s upcoming Future of Digital Assets event on Nov. 19.

Industry leaders will explore how shifts in leadership and evolving perspectives on digital assets are shaping the future of financial markets.

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