US fund management giant Franklin Templeton has appointed Julian Ide, CEO of Edinburgh-based asset manager Martin Currie, as its head of EMEA distribution ahead of the closing of its acquisition of Legg Mason.

Franklin Templeton will appoint Ide as head of distribution for Europe, the Middle East and Asia (EMEA) once its acquisition of Legg Mason completes, expected later this week.

Ide will remain as CEO of Martin Currie — a Legg Mason subsidiary that is included in the deal.

Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson said: “The acquisition of Legg Mason establishes Franklin Templeton as one of the largest independent, specialised global investment managers globally, with a newly-combined AUM that will be over $148bn (£114bn) in the EMEA region.  

“I would like to welcome Julian on board and congratulate him on his appointment.

“His strength as a leader and experience in international markets positions him well to lead our combined business in EMEA.”

Ide said: “Franklin Templeton is one of the world’s largest global asset managers with a strong investment focus, extensive value-add client partnerships and robust track records across many equity and fixed income asset classes. 

“I am excited by the vision of the senior leadership team and the innovative culture to deliver an ambitious agenda in EMEA.”