BlackRock head of EMEA retail Gruener: Our product launch pipeline has never been as big as this year

'It is not about active or passive'

Michael Gruener, head of EMEA retail at BlackRock, talks to Jayna Rana about how the group is responding to market uncertainty and why some asset management houses risk being in the 'danger zone'.

Despite being in the position for only 15 months, Michael Gruener has played a pivotal role within EMEA retail at BlackRock and its proactive response to markets today - arguably the most uncertain period we have seen for some time. Gruener took on the position in July 2017 following predecessor Alex Hoctor-Duncan's 20-year stint in the role and since then, the division has launched 25 new products, 18 of which have been this year. Unique opportunities As a whole, BlackRock manages $6trn in assets across equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternatives and index strategies, for bot...