Mark Wiedman, a top BlackRock exec thought to be Fink's successor, is leaving the company

BlackRock's Growth and Leadership - Mark Wiedman played a key role in driving BlackRock's growth in passive investing, with assets under management increasing from $500 billion to$1.7 trillion from 2011 to 2019 [1] - Wiedman joined BlackRock in 2004 and led the firm's emergency assistance efforts during the financial crisis [1] - Wiedman, a senior executive with over 20 years at BlackRock, is leaving the company after serving as head of the global client business for the past two years [3] BlackRock's Market Position and Acquisitions - BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with a record $11.5 trillion in assets under management in Q4 [2] - The company made two major acquisitions in 2023 to expand in private credit and alternatives: HPS Investment Partners for$12 billion and Global Infrastructure Partners for $12.5 billion [2] Leadership Transition - Wiedman was considered a potential successor to CEO Larry Fink [3]