“My alarm usually goes off before 5 am,” says Tariq Ahmad, Franklin Templeton’s co‑head of Asia‑Pacific, on how he starts his day. “From a young age, the early mornings have been a natural fit for me. Now, I use the time to think, absorb market news from the US and Europe, fit in a session at the gym and prepare for the day as we focus on the strategic priorities for our clients across Apac. We’re busy but energised, and the morning provides that excitement of the day to come.”
To say it has been a busy 24 months for Ahmad and the firm is an understatement. Ahmad’s recent appointment as co‑head of Apac aside, Franklin Templeton will be celebrating the two‑year anniversary of its acquisition of Legg Mason—one that was predominantly done virtually and during the height of the Covid‑19