Shawn C. D. Johnson was named CEO of Aegon Asset Management, effective Sept. 23.
Johnson will succeed Bas NieuweWeme, who is pursuing career opportunities outside the firm, a news release said. NieuweWeme, who became CEO in June 2019, will stay on as an adviser until Dec. 1 to ensure a smooth transition.
Johnson will also become a member of parent company Aegon’s executive committee. The money management unit had €318.2 billion ($340.8 billion) in assets under management as of June 30. It runs assets across four global investment platforms: fixed income, real assets, equities, and multiasset and solutions.
Johnson will work from the U.S., but travel frequently to The Hague, Netherlands, Edinburgh and other Aegon locations, a spokesperson said.
“Shawn’s appointment comes at a natural moment for Aegon AM following the completion of key milestones,” said Lard Friese, CEO of Aegon, in the release. “Shawn’s extensive expertise in asset management, combined with his strategic consulting and leadership acumen, make him uniquely qualified to guide Aegon AM through the next phase of its transformation. I am confident that Shawn, along with Aegon AM’s executive team, will build on our strong foundation to achieve sustainable, profitable growth and further strengthen our competitive position in the industry.”
Johnson was most recently CEO of AMP Capital, the Australia-based money management firm. He joined in 2021 and led the firm through a period of restructuring. Parent company AMP announced a rebrand of its fund management business in 2022 as part of a demerger. Changes included Ares Management Corp.’s subsidiary buying the infrastructure debt platform in 2022.
A spokesperson for AMP could not immediately be reached for comment.
