Brendan Ahern
Brendan Ahern is the Chief Investment Officer of KraneShares, a leading global asset manager specializing in China-focused exchange-traded funds. In his role, he oversees investment strategy, research, and investor education, working closely with institutions and advisors on topics ranging from portfolio construction and ETF trading to the growing influence of index providers in global asset management. Ahern is widely regarded as an early pioneer of the U.S. ETF industry and a recognized authority on global financial markets, with deep expertise in China’s capital markets. Prior to joining KraneShares, he spent more than a decade at Barclays Global Investors, now BlackRock iShares, where he played a key role in the launch and expansion of one of the world’s largest ETF platforms.
Brendan Ahern Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Chief Investment Officer
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Director
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Sales Associate
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Sales Associate
Academic History
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M.S., Financial Analysis
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Bachelor of Arts
BLACKROCK ISHARES
Brendan Ahern’s career spans a defining period in the growth of the global ETF industry, giving him deep, firsthand insight into ETF structure, trading, and market adoption.
He was among the first 20 employees of iShares at BlackRock and played an instrumental role in the rollout and expansion of the firm’s ETF platform in the United States.
During his tenure, Ahern witnessed the ETF market scale rapidly, with assets under management growing from just a few billion dollars to approximately $1.5 trillion.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP & MEDIA PRESENCE
Ahern is a widely recognized thought leader on China’s capital markets and the global ETF landscape and is frequently sought out by leading financial media outlets.
He regularly appears on CNBC and Bloomberg and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and Investor’s Business Daily.
He also authors China Last Night, a daily market update that appears as a Forbes column, providing timely insights into Chinese equities, policy developments, and market dynamics.
Ahern is a frequent visitor to China and maintains close, daily contact with an extensive on-the-ground research network of investment banks, brokers, and regional and boutique research firms.