Franklin Templeton Names Head for RIA Division and Expands Sales Team

San Mateo, CA, March 9, 2011 – Franklin Templeton Investments today announced that Pierre Caramazza has been named head of the Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) sales division, and new RIA field positions have also been added. 

Caramazza’s primary responsibilities include overseeing the expansion of Franklin Templeton’s services within the RIA marketplace for all Franklin Templeton products. He will report to Dan O’Lear, executive vice president of U.S. Advisory Services for Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc.

 “Pierre brings a tremendous amount of product-specific expertise to this position,” said O’Lear.  “His proven leadership will be an asset as we strive to deepen our reach in the investment advisor marketplace.”  

Caramazza has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, including five with Franklin Templeton.  Previously, he was a senior vice president managing the Fixed Income Product Management & Development and Regional Product Strategy groups. 

In addition, three new field positions have been added within the investment advisor division reporting to Caramazza:

• Michael Wasz is vice president and regional director covering the central region of the U.S.  He transferred from a similar position with Franklin Templeton Portfolio Advisors, the firm’s separately managed accounts division. 
• Matthew Carlisle is vice president and regional director covering the southeast region.  He joined the firm in November with 20 years of experience in the industry, primarily working with registered investment advisors. 
• Raymond Parker, an investment advisor specialist in the RIA division, was promoted to regional specialist covering the northeast.

Tom Johnson, who manages national key account relationships and the internal sales desk for the RIA division, will continue in this role and now reports to Caramazza.  Johnson is also now assuming management responsibility for the separately managed account (SMA) internal sales desk. 

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN], is a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments.  Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management solutions managed by its Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Fiduciary Trust, Darby and Bissett investment teams.  The San Mateo, CA-based company has more than 60 years of investment experience and more than $693 billion in assets under management as of February 28, 2011.  For more information, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN^® or visit franklintempleton.com.