# Franklin Resources

Franklin Resources is an Asset Manager based in San Mateo, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Asset Manager
- **Headquarters:** San Mateo, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** San Mateo, CA, United States
- **Founded:** 1947
- **Assets under management:** $1.65 trillion (per Franklin Resources, 2024)
- **Website:** franklintempleton.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/franklin-templeton

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Jenny Johnson, the daughter of co-founder Charles B. Johnson, has served as CEO since 2020, leading the firm through a period of strategic acquisitions and product expansion. Her brother Gregory Johnson holds the role of executive chairman. The Johnson family remains a significant shareholder but the company is publicly traded on the NYSE as BEN. The firm invests across a broad range of asset classes including fixed income, equities, multi-asset strategies, and alternatives. It has expanded its alternatives platform through a series of acquisitions including the purchase of Legg Mason in 2020 and Clarion Partners earlier. Geographic coverage spans North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and India, with a presence in emerging markets via local research teams. Franklin Resources employs over 9,000 professionals worldwide, with major offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, and Mumbai. The firm operates a separately managed charitable foundation, the Franklin Templeton Charitable Trust. In October 2023, the firm launched the Franklin Templeton Global Macro Fund, targeting institutional investors. What distinguishes Franklin Resources from most asset managers is its blend of family control with public-market discipline — the Johnson family retains voting control through a dual-class share structure, giving the firm long-horizon governance while still benefiting from listed access to capital markets. The firm operates a highly decentralized investment model, with autonomous investment teams rather than a single CIO dictating strategy.

## Sectors

- Asset Management
- Fixed Income
- Equities
- Multi-Asset
- Alternatives
- ESG

## Offices

- New York
- London
- Hong Kong
- Tokyo
- Sydney
- Mumbai

## People

- Gregory Johnson — Executive Chairman
- Jenny Johnson — President and CEO
- John G. Taft — Vice Chairman
- Matthew Nicholls — Chief Financial Officer
- Sonal Desai — Chief Investment Officer, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income
- Stephen Dover — Head of Franklin Templeton Investment Institute

## Questions

### Who controls investment decisions at Franklin Resources?

Investment decisions are made by autonomous teams across asset classes rather than a single CIO. Sonal Desai runs fixed-income, Stephen Dover leads the investment institute, and the firm uses a multi-boutique structure where teams operate with independent process (per Franklin Resources public disclosures).

### How does the Johnson family maintain control while the firm is public?

The firm has a dual-class stock structure. The Johnson family holds shares with superior voting rights, giving them effective control of board elections and major strategic decisions despite owning a minority of the economic equity (per Franklin Resources proxy filings).

### What is the firm's approach to alternatives?

Franklin Resources has built an alternatives platform through acquisition, notably buying Legg Mason and its affiliated managers including Clarion Partners (real estate) and Western Asset Management (fixed income). The alternatives arm manages hedge fund strategies, private credit, and real assets (per Franklin Resources, 2022).

### What are the firm's geographic priorities?

The firm operates globally with regional hubs in New York for the Americas, London for EMEA, Hong Kong for Asia-Pacific, and Sydney for Australia. It has expanded in India and Latin America as part of a growth strategy for emerging market investor reach (per Franklin Resources reports).

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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