Key Takeaways
- Katherine Tweedie has been appointed head of BlackRock Canada, effective this summer, succeeding Marcia Moffat.
- She currently serves as co‑head of the North American institutional client group and head of Canada for Ninety One, overseeing roughly US$226 billion in assets.
- Tweedie’s career spans BMO and CIBC capital markets, the World Economic Forum, and advanced degrees from Harvard Kennedy School and the University of Victoria.
- Beyond finance, she chairs the Investor Leadership Network, sits on the Women’s College Hospital Foundation and St. Michaels University School boards, and is an accomplished Ironman triathlete.
- BlackRock manages more than US$480 billion for Canadian clients, including over 200 pension plans, and its global AUM recently topped US$14 trillion.
- The leadership change follows Moffat’s February 2025 departure and her subsequent appointment to Sun Life Financial’s board, as well as the earlier exit of iShares Canada head Helen Hayes in April 2025.
Appointment Announcement
The Globe and Mail reported that BlackRock has named Katherine Tweedie as the new head of its Canadian division, with the appointment confirmed by an internal memo viewed by the newspaper. Tweedie is set to begin the role this summer, although BlackRock Canada declined to comment publicly. The source of the information requested anonymity because they are not authorized to disclose internal deliberations. This move marks a significant leadership shift for BlackRock’s Canadian operations, which oversee a substantial portion of the firm’s North American business.
Professional Background at Ninety One
Prior to joining BlackRock, Tweedie held the dual role of co‑head of the North American institutional client group and head of Canada for Ninety One, the Anglo‑South African investment manager. As of March 31, Ninety One managed approximately US$226 billion in assets, underscoring Tweedie’s experience steering large‑scale institutional portfolios. Her tenure at Ninety One involved deepening relationships with Canadian pension funds, endowments, and sovereign wealth providers, positioning her well to transition those relationships to BlackRock’s platform.
Early Career and Education
Tweedie’s financial career began in the late 1990s with BMO Capital Markets, followed by a stint at CIBC Capital Markets in the early 2000s. She later shifted to global policy work, leading all African‑related affairs and engagement at the World Economic Forum’s annual Davos gathering. Academically, she holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria and a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, blending practical market expertise with a strong foundation in public policy and governance.
Leadership Roles and Volunteer Work
Outside her corporate responsibilities, Tweedie is actively engaged in several volunteer boards. She chairs the Investor Leadership Network (ILN), a CEO‑led coalition launched at the 2018 G7 meeting that aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable and inclusive global economy. Additionally, she serves on the Women’s College Hospital Foundation’s board of directors, where she chairs the investment committee, and sits on the board of governors for St. Michaels University School. These roles reflect her commitment to fostering responsible investment practices and supporting community institutions.
Personal Interests and Athletic Achievements
Tweedie’s LinkedIn profile highlights her passion for travel and competitive athletics. She is an avid triathlete, boasting three Ironman Triathlon age‑group victories and a top‑10 finish in her age group at the 2005 Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. Her endurance sports background complements her professional discipline, illustrating a personal drive for goal‑setting, perseverance, and high performance—traits that likely translate to her leadership approach at BlackRock.
Context: BlackRock Canada Assets and Market Position
BlackRock’s global assets under management recently surpassed US$14 trillion, and as of October 2025 the firm managed more than US$480 billion on behalf of Canadian clients, including over 200 pension plans. This sizable Canadian footprint makes the country a critical market for BlackRock’s product distribution, risk management services, and sustainable investing initiatives. Tweedie’s appointment comes at a time when the firm is seeking to deepen its presence in Canada’s rapidly evolving ETF and active‑management landscapes.
Leadership Transition: Departure of Marcia Moffat
Tweedie succeeds Marcia Moffat, who stepped down as head of BlackRock Canada in February 2025 after a decade‑long tenure that began in 2015. Shortly after her departure, Moffat joined the board of directors of Sun Life Financial. During her time at BlackRock, Moffat spearheaded a 2019 partnership with the Royal Bank of Canada to launch the iShares suite of exchange‑traded fund products, significantly expanding BlackRock’s ETF offerings in Canada. Her move to Sun Life signals a continued influence within the Canadian financial sector, albeit from a different vantage point.
iShares Canada and Market Share
The iShares Canada business experienced another leadership shift when Helen Hayes, who had joined BlackRock in 2021 to lead iShares Canada, left the firm in late April 2025 as part of a broader restructuring. According to data from the Canadian ETF Association, iShares products continue to dominate the domestic ETF market, a testament to the strong foundation laid under previous leadership. Tweedie’s background in institutional client relations suggests she may look to leverage this ETF strength while exploring growth in active‑managed strategies and thematic funds.
Broader Implications for BlackRock’s Canadian Strategy
BlackRock’s first‑quarter 2025 results showed a rise in profit driven by active ETFs and performance fees, indicating investor appetite for differentiated, outcome‑oriented products. Under Tweedie’s stewardship, the firm may seek to balance its dominant passive ETF platform with expanded active and sustainable investment offerings tailored to Canadian institutional investors. Her policy‑focused background, combined with deep asset‑management experience, positions her to navigate regulatory shifts, ESG integration demands, and the growing appetite for customized solutions among Canada’s pension and endowment community. This leadership change could therefore signal a renewed emphasis on innovation and client‑centric product development within BlackRock’s Canadian operations.