Franklin Templeton Appoints Rich Nuzum as OCIO Head for Business Growth

Franklin Templeton has appointed Rich Nuzum as Head of Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) to expand and develop its OCIO business. Nuzum joins from Mercer with over three decades of investment consulting expertise. Franklin Templeton manages $93 billion in assets and sees OCIO expansion as a strategic priority. Nuzum will report directly to Adam Petryk, head of FTIS.

Franklin Templeton has appointed Rich Nuzum as the Head of Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) to expand and develop its OCIO business. Nuzum joins from Mercer with over three decades of investment consulting expertise. Franklin Templeton manages $93 billion in assets and sees OCIO expansion as a strategic priority. Nuzum will report directly to Adam Petryk, head of FTIS.

Nuzum's extensive experience in investment consulting, including advising half of the world's top 20 institutional investors, positions him to drive growth and innovation within Franklin Templeton's OCIO division [3]. His leadership in scaling Mercer's OCIO business—from a niche service to a $1.2 trillion global offering—demonstrates a proven ability to navigate the complexities of institutional client needs.

The appointment aligns with Franklin Templeton's strategic priority to expand its OCIO business, offering integrated and personalized investment solutions. FTIS manages $93 billion in assets, supported by a robust team of over 100 multi-asset investment professionals [1]. Nuzum's mandate is to expand FTIS's OCIO footprint, catering to nonprofits, endowments, and mid-sized corporations seeking to offload operational burdens while retaining strategic control.

The OCIO sector's ascent is fueled by three interlocking forces: operational complexity, technological disruption, and ESG and alternative assets. As of 2025, the U.S. OCIO market alone manages $2.0 trillion in assets, with projections suggesting it will swell to $3.0 trillion by year-end [3]. Nuzum's appointment underscores Franklin Templeton's commitment to delivering customized, integrated solutions that address these trends.

For institutional investors, Nuzum's appointment signals a critical opportunity. Franklin Templeton's OCIO services now combine global reach, scalable expertise, and tech-driven efficiency. Investors should consider Franklin Templeton's OCIO offerings as a strategic partner for cost optimization, risk mitigation, and ESG integration.

Franklin Templeton's strategic bet on OCIO, anchored by Nuzum's leadership, is emblematic of the industry's shift toward performance-driven outsourcing. As OCIO AUM grows at 7.5% annually, firms that combine deep client relationships with technological agility—like Franklin Templeton—will dominate the next decade.

References:
[1] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2985731/franklin-resources-inc-ben-appoints-rich-nuzum-as-head-of-ocio-at-franklin-templeton-investment-solutions-ben-stock-news
[2] https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/rich-nuzum-joins-franklin-templeton-lead-its-ocio
[3] https://www.ainvest.com/news/franklin-templeton-strategic-move-strengthen-ocio-business-appointing-rich-nuzum-aligning-industry-trends-outsourced-investment-management-2507/