Janus Henderson has appointed Franklin Templeton veteran Naveen Kumar M as senior associate director in Dubai, stepping up efforts to grow its intermediary distribution footprint across the Middle East.
Kumar will report to Meshal AlFaras, managing director and head of Middle East, Africa & Central Asia. In the newly created role, he will deepen relationships with regional and international banks and insurance companies, key channels for fund distribution across the Gulf.
The move comes as global asset managers ramp up efforts to capture institutional and retail flows from a region reshaped by sovereign wealth, private capital and cross-border investment. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have emerged as key hubs for sales coverage, product structuring and client engagement spanning the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia.
Janus Henderson has been accelerating its regional buildout. Last year, the firm appointed Baraa Amir as executive director for the Middle East and Africa and opened a new office in Abu Dhabi Global Market.
Janus Henderson managed about $484 billion in assets as of September, employed more than 2,000 people and operated in 25 cities worldwide. Kumar previously held senior roles at Franklin Templeton, HSBC Asset Management, ICICI Bank and Karvy Stock Broking.
📌 Why it matters:
Distribution partnerships with banks and insurers often determine which global funds gain traction in Gulf portfolios. Securing experienced on-the-ground leadership can directly influence asset flows and product visibility in a relationship-driven market.
📌 Bottom line:
Janus Henderson is shifting from regional presence to active expansion, building out senior talent and infrastructure to compete more aggressively for Middle East mandates.
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