ASK Investment Managers, the Indian asset and wealth manager majority owned by Blackstone, has reportedly hired Akhil Chaturvedi as mutual fund CEO. The news, reported on October 26, 2026, comes as ASK builds out its mutual fund arm after receiving approval from India’s market regulator earlier this year. Here is who he is, what ASK is building and why the appointment matters.
Key facts
Item | Details |
|---|---|
New role | CEO, ASK’s mutual fund business |
Company | ASK Investment Managers (ASK Asset & Wealth Management Group) |
Previous role | Executive Director and Chief Business Officer, Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company |
Experience | More than 13 years at Motilal Oswal AMC |
Majority owner | Blackstone, since 2022 |
ASK’s assets | About $9 billion, after the SageOne Investment Managers acquisition |
Regulatory status | Final SEBI approval to operate as a mutual fund investment manager, February 2026 |
Who is Akhil Chaturvedi?
Chaturvedi comes from Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company, one of India’s better-known equity-focused fund houses, where he served as Executive Director and Chief Business Officer after more than 13 years with the firm. In that role he was closely associated with the business side of the AMC, including distribution and investor outreach. At ASK, he will lead the mutual fund business as it moves from approval to launching and growing products.
What ASK is building
ASK has been a well-established name in portfolio management services (PMS), alternative investment funds (AIFs) and private wealth. Blackstone’s private equity funds acquired a majority stake in ASK in 2022, in a deal that was reported at the time as being for more than 70% of the company.
The mutual fund business is the next step:
March 2025: SEBI gave ASK in-principle approval to enter the mutual fund business.
February 2026: ASK received final approval to operate as an investment manager for mutual funds.
September 2026: ASK acquired SageOne Investment Managers, lifting its assets under management to about $9 billion, according to Bloomberg.
October 2026: Chaturvedi was named CEO of the mutual fund business.
ASK has said ASK Mutual Fund will offer active equity, passive strategies, hybrid and fixed-income products. Its founder and chairman, Sameer Koticha, has described mutual funds as completing its transition into a full-suite asset and wealth platform spanning PMS, AIFs, private wealth and mutual funds, for retail and institutional investors.
Why the appointment matters
A distribution-minded leader. A new fund house needs more than good products. It needs relationships with distributors, banks and advisors. Hiring a senior business head from an established AMC signals that ASK is focused on building distribution early.
Blackstone’s long-term bet on India. Blackstone has said it sees asset and wealth management in India as a sunrise industry, helped by the financialization of household savings. Putting a seasoned mutual fund executive in charge shows that the bet is being backed by operating talent.
A crowded but growing market. India’s mutual fund industry has expanded quickly. Industry assets roughly tripled from Rs 24 lakh crore in March 2019 to Rs 67 lakh crore in January 2025, and penetration is still below global levels. New entrants have room to grow, but they compete with large, established fund houses.
A chance to leverage ASK’s brand. ASK already has a track record with high-net-worth investors through PMS and AIFs. Mutual funds let it reach a much wider base of investors.
What to watch next
When ASK Mutual Fund launches its first schemes, and in which categories
The investment team and fund management leadership around the new CEO
How ASK prices its funds and positions them against established fund houses
Distribution partnerships with banks, platforms and independent advisors
How the SageOne acquisition is integrated into ASK’s wider business
Frequently asked questions
Who is the CEO of ASK Mutual Fund?
Akhil Chaturvedi, who was reportedly named CEO of ASK’s mutual fund business in October 2026. Read TheFinRate’s report on ASK’s reported hire of Akhil Chaturvedi for the news summary.
Is this a Blackstone mutual fund?
Not directly. ASK Investment Managers is majority owned by Blackstone funds, but Chaturvedi leads ASK’s mutual fund arm, not Blackstone itself.
Where did Akhil Chaturvedi work before?
He was Executive Director and Chief Business Officer at Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company, where he worked for more than 13 years.
Has ASK Mutual Fund received regulatory approval?
Yes. SEBI gave final approval in February 2026 for ASK to operate as an investment manager for mutual funds, after in-principle approval in March 2025.
Has ASK Mutual Fund launched any schemes yet?
This post does not confirm any scheme launches. Check ASK’s official channels for announcements.
This post is for information only and is not investment advice. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks.
