Deborah Fuhr is back with ETF consultancy firm

Exchange traded fund expert Deborah Fuhr has launched an independent research and consultancy business for the global ETF industry.

Fuhr, who previously worked at BlackRock, has formed ETF Global Insight with her former Morgan Stanley and BlackRock colleagues, Shane Kelly and Matthew Murray.

The new firm is focused on providing independent research and analysis, as well as education and assistance to investors on product comparisons and asset allocation implementation.

Fuhr, Kelly and Murray were all instrumental in the development of the first ETF global industry research reports and worldwide handbooks while they were at Morgan Stanley.

They were subsequently responsible for producing leading ETF reports and handbooks at Barclays Global Investors, and then BlackRock following the acquisition.

Fuhr said: ‘Having covered the ETF industry since 1997 when there were only 21 products and $21 billion in assets under management I believe that ETFs have been one of the most successful financial products of the past 25 years, bringing investors liquidity, diversification and low-cost access to a wide range of asset classes around the world. 

‘While asset growth in the ETF industry has been tremendous, regulators, investors, ETF managers, brokers, index providers and all of the members of the ETF eco-system have been citing the need for more and better independent education, research and customised assistance to investors seeking to navigate the vast array of products. ETF Global Insight has been set up to provide this service across the globe.’

Fuhr was previously the global head of ETF research and implementation strategy at BlackRock, although she left the firm in 2011 and was set to join Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

However, Wealth Manager revealed the role she was set to occupy – head of global delta one strategy – had been axed by the bank.

Kelly had also left BlackRock and was working at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, although it emerged in January this year that he had walked out of his post after only a few months.