Rachel Lord has been named head of BlackRock Asia-Pacific effective May 1, subject to regulatory approval.
Ms. Lord replaces Geraldine Buckingham, who took on the head of Asia-Pacific role roughly two years ago, according to a company announcement Tuesday.
A Hong Kong-based spokeswoman said Ms. Buckingham, facing COVID-19-related separations from her family, opted to switch to a new role as a senior adviser to BlackRock's Asia-Pacific business.
Ms. Lord will relocate to Hong Kong from London, where she was head of BlackRock's business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Mark Wiedman, BlackRock's head of international and of corporate strategy, in a news release highlighted Ms. Lord's success in overseeing growth in assets and revenues "in a complex EMEA region undergoing economic and regulatory shirts, while taking BlackRock deeper into local markets."
Stephen Cohen, London-based head of BlackRock's i-Shares and wealth business, as well as head of the index investment business in EMEA, will replace Ms. Lord as head of BlackRock's EMEA business, the spokeswoman said.
Replacements for Mr. Cohen's current roles will be named in due course, she added.