Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock: Redefining Global Asset Management

Laurence D. Fink, widely known as Larry Fink, is one of the most influential figures in modern finance. As co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of BlackRock, he has helped shape how capital is managed and invested worldwide. His career reflects a deep understanding of both markets and risk, paired with a vision of finance as a tool for long-term sustainability and growth.

BlackRock at a Glance
Founded in 1988, BlackRock began as a small risk management and fixed-income institutional asset manager. Over the decades, it has grown into the world’s largest asset management firm, with over $9 trillion in assets under management as of 2025. Its services span exchange-traded funds (ETFs), risk analytics, and sustainable investing solutions. The company’s flagship platform, Aladdin, has also set industry standards in risk assessment and portfolio management, reinforcing BlackRock’s global leadership.

Early Life, Education, and Career Foundations
Larry Fink was born in 1952 in Los Angeles, California, and raised in a middle-class family. He studied political science at UCLA, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1974, before pursuing an MBA in real estate at UCLA Anderson School of Management. His early exposure to finance came through his role at First Boston Corporation, where he became a pioneer in mortgage-backed securities. While he achieved notable success, a miscalculation in the mid-1980s led to significant losses, an experience that shaped his lifelong focus on risk management.

Path to Founding BlackRock and Becoming CEO
In 1988, learning from past challenges, Fink co-founded BlackRock along with seven partners under the umbrella of Blackstone Group before it spun off as an independent entity. His goal was to create a firm where risk management was embedded into the core of investment decision-making. Fink’s blend of analytical expertise and leadership quickly propelled BlackRock from a niche player into a trusted global partner for governments, corporations, and individual investors. By 1989, he was serving as CEO, a position he has held ever since, guiding the company through multiple economic cycles.

Strategic Vision and Leadership Style
Fink is widely recognized for his annual letters to CEOs, in which he emphasizes corporate responsibility, sustainability, and long-term value creation. He has positioned BlackRock as a leader in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, pushing companies to consider their broader societal impact. At the same time, he has embraced technology, ensuring that platforms like Aladdin continue to give BlackRock an edge in data-driven decision-making. His leadership style combines pragmatic risk assessment with a commitment to innovation and global engagement.

Impact and Global Influence
Under Fink’s leadership, BlackRock has not only grown to manage trillions in assets but also shaped debates on climate change, governance, and the future of capitalism. He has become a key voice in encouraging companies to adopt sustainable practices and think beyond quarterly earnings. BlackRock’s growing influence in global markets has sparked both recognition and debate, highlighting the firm’s power in shaping economies and industries. Fink himself has frequently appeared on lists such as Forbes’ Most Powerful People in Business, reflecting his outsized role in finance.