Asset manager taps former Vanguard $274B PM to lead ETF operations

After 14 years with Vanguard, Awais Khan has a new role.

A former Vanguard portfolio manager overseeing roughly $274 billion in assets and managing dozens of funds has moved firms for a new role.

Awais Khan was with Vanguard for 14 years but has now joined abrdn Inc., the US business of the global specialist asset manager, as head of ETF portfolio management and capital markets, based in Philadelphia.

The firm’s US ETF suite provides passive exposure to commodities and physically backed precious metals representing $8 billion in assets. Last November, InvestmentNews anchor Gregg Greenberg spoke with Robert Minter, director of ETF investment strategy at abrdn to give his forecast for the direction of gold, oil, copper and other commodities.

The growth of ETFs over the past decade has been on a scale almost unmatched by other typical investment vehicles in the US such as mutual funds. A recent report from Cerulli gives much of the kudos for this acceleration to the adoption of ETFs by financial advisors and end-investors in the retail sector.

ETFs are a key focus for abrdn Inc. and it has been quick to innovate with its suite of funds. Welcoming Khan to the firm, CEO Jim O’Connor said: “Our strategic push into ETFs underscores our commitment to delivering value to investors and making our investment content available in the manner that they prefer to consume it. With the addition of Awais, we are well-positioned to deliver and capitalize on this exciting new pathway for clients to access the investment capabilities they desire to meet their investment goals.”

Khan’s role is a newly created one and his responsibilities will include looking after the portfolio management, trading, and capital markets aspects of abrdn’s ETF capabilities.