Broadridge (NYSE: BR) announces the winners of its 2026 Distribution Achievement Awards. This year marks the ninth edition of the awards, which were founded to recognise excellence across all aspects of fund distribution. In particular, the awards celebrate the hard work and ingenuity of marketing and communication and client service teams in the fund distribution industry – as well as acknowledge thought-leaders and pioneers in innovation, ESG, ETFs, and private markets.
“These awards show a market in motion. Established leaders are continuing to raise the bar, while a new group of firms is gaining ground by responding quickly to selectors’ changing needs,” said Lynn Pattinson, Senior Director, Broadridge Analytics Solutions Limited. “In an increasingly competitive environment, the ability to combine trusted relationships with fresh ideas and relevant solutions is what sets providers apart.”
The latest industry rankings recognise a broad group of leading asset managers and investment firms for their performance across seven key categories, with JPMorgan Asset Management, BlackRock, Robeco, iShares, Partners Group, and Blackstone Group each securing top positions. The fastest-riser tables also point to shifting momentum across the market, with firms including Carmignac, Vanguard, Royal London Asset Management, Xtrackers and Mirae Asset Global Investments emerging as notable gainers in their respective categories.
The awards are based on responses from approximately 800 of Europe’s leading third-party fund selectors from Broadridge’s Fund Buyer Focus interviews conducted in the 12-month period to June 2026. The interviews seek to pinpoint the changing demands of Europe’s key fund distribution influencers, and to identify the fund providers that are delivering best-in-class standards. These fund selectors represent some €3trn of third-party client assets in Europe and provide a representative voice of investors in the ten markets they serve.
Award categories and winners:
Client Service
Top Provider: JPMorgan Asset Management
Fastest Riser: Carmignac
Asset managers are under increasing pressure to adapt their business models or risk losing ground, as changing client expectations continue to reshape the industry on several fronts. Investor preferences are evolving beyond traditional equities and fixed income toward alternative asset classes such as private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and digital assets. At the same time, sales teams must respond to rising buyer expectations by developing deeper product expertise and strengthening their data-driven capabilities.
JPMorgan AM ranked first for client services with 243 points and 117 medals, ahead of BlackRock on 230 points and Fidelity on 212*. European-headquartered managers Pictet and Amundi make up the top quintet. Selectors are looking for a strong local presence, high-quality documentation, timely responses and, increasingly, proactive engagement in relation to the latest macro and geopolitical developments.
Carmignac was the fastest-rising firm in the category, increasing its total score by over 46 points year-on-year, followed by Invesco and BlackRock. One French fund buyer described Carmignac’s two-hour sales response time as “simply unbeatable.” The firm was also recognised for its ability to engage clients on relevant and timely industry topics.
Marketing and Communication
Top Provider: BlackRock
Fastest Riser: Vanguard
Asset management sales teams may have faced a challenging year, but marketing and communication professionals encountered equally significant pressures. They were navigating an environment shaped by industry-wide fee compression, growing client demand for digital experiences, and stringent regulatory requirements. While the right operational size and scale can help teams reduce workflow inefficiencies and meet rising expectations, cost-cutting has remained widespread, even among the largest and most successful firms.
Marketing and communication continue to be a standout category for BlackRock, with the firm securing first place by a substantial margin, earning 417 points and 181 medals. JPMorgan AM ranked second with 356 points, followed by Fidelity with 249.
Vanguard was the fastest-growing firm in the category, with a 44% year-on-year increase, while Franklin Templeton and Rothschild & Co Asset Management also posted strong gains. Vanguard is particularly valued for its clear communication, and direct and continuous contact. The group stands out for its brand visibility.
ESG
Top Provider: Robeco
Fastest Riser: Royal London Asset Managemen
ESG and SRI labels appear to be losing impetus as investment drivers, with recent demand increasingly shaped by circumstance rather than deep conviction. Even so, investors remain highly attentive to the social, environmental, and financial risks associated with geopolitical instability, policy uncertainty, and climate change. This suggests that sustainability continues to matter despite recent resistance and may be most effective when embedded within a broader investment strategy rather than presented as a separate label.
Robeco led the ESG/SRI category with 323 points and 143 medals, ahead of Amundi with 262 points and CANDRIAM with 231. The firm maintains a strong reputation in ESG investing, supported by well-established products such as its Smart Energy strategy and Sustainable Global Stars Equities fund.
Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) was the fastest-rising firm in the category, up 23%, while CANDRIAM and JPMorgan AM also recorded notable gains. RLAM’s ESG credentials have been strengthened by major industry recognition, including its ‘Leader in Net Zero Stewardship – Europe 2026’ award, the expansion of its sustainable fund range under the FCA’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements labels, and its approach to integrating asset lifecycle management and governance considerations. CANDRIAM is on many selectors’ radars because it has highly regarded funds, including thematic strategies, that are well-aligned with sustainability goals.
Innovation
Top Provider: BlackRock
Fastest Riser: Xtrackers
No single idea or thread dominates selector commentary. While passive and active product innovation remains a consistent focus, fund buyers are also prioritising digital assets, broader choice in active ETFs, and lower-cost, transparent access to semi-liquid alternatives. More recently, tokenisation has moved sharply up the agenda, although selector views on tokenisation remain mixed.
In the Innovation category, BlackRock once again led the field, ranking first with 483 points and 211 medals. JPMorgan AM took second place with 295 points, followed by Pictet AM on 203. BlackRock has embraced tokenisation directly, reinforcing its commitment to tokenised funds, while JPMorgan AM has built a strong brand in the active ETF market.
The standout riser was Xtrackers, which posted a 73% increase in points, ahead of Polar Capital, VanEck and Invesco. The launch of targeted, technology-focused products such as the Xtrackers MSCI Innovation UCITS ETF and Polar Capital’s Global Technology Fund have resonated strongly with investors.
Most-used ETF provider
Top Provider: iShares
Fastest Riser: Mirae Asset Global Investments
iShares continues to dominate the category, maintaining a commanding lead with 1,570 points and 577 medals, while Amundi and Xtrackers follow in second and third place with 533 and 359 points, respectively. These top-three providers are widely recognised by fund selectors for their broad, diversified product suites and well-established brand reliability. Beyond brand equity, selectors frequently cite competitive, low-fee structures alongside superior levels of customer service as primary factors driving their provider preferences.
Meanwhile, smaller and mid-sized ETF players are growing rapidly, led by Mirae Asset Global Investments, and its Global X ETFs range, which recorded an impressive 400% year-on-year growth from a modest baseline. This performance placed Mirae ahead of other fast-rising challengers, including HANetf and VanEck. While iShares retains its overall market dominance, these nimble, mid-market competitors are successfully capturing market share by accelerating timely, specialised thematic product launches in high-demand sectors such as semi-conductors, AI and defence.
Most-used Private Equity provider
Top Provider: Partners Group
In private markets, Partners Group topped the most-used private equity rankings with 140 points and 53 medals, ahead of BlackRock and Blackstone Group. Partners Group is highly regarded in private equity for its strong long-term performance, global scale, and deep direct investing capabilities. Investors value its hands-on approach to value creation, as well as its ability to offer diversified exposure across private markets. Its institutional credibility and consistent execution have made it a preferred partner for many investors.
Most-used Private Debt provider
Top Provider: Blackstone Group
In this category, Blackstone Group ranked first with 75 points and 28 medals, followed by BlackRock and Tikehau Capital. Blackstone has built one of the world’s largest alternative investment platforms, giving investors access to a wide range of private credit opportunities across direct lending, opportunistic credit, real estate debt, and structured solutions. Its strong origination capabilities, deep relationships, and ability to navigate different market cycles make it especially attractive to investors seeking both income and downside protection. Selectors highlighted the quality and good results of Tikehau Capital’s ‘well-structured’ private debt funds.
Asia Pacific
Best-in-class: JPMorgan Asset Management
Active ETFs are a core driver of JPMorgan Asset Management’s success in APAC, supporting its broader ambition to use Asia as a major engine of future growth. The firm is well positioned to benefit from this opportunity through a strategy focused on localisation, active ETFs, and private markets, enabling it to better meet the evolving needs of regional investors. By combining tailored local capabilities with expanding expertise in active ETF and private market solutions, JPMorgan has built a strong platform for sustained growth across Asia.
Latin America
Best-in-class: Capital Group
Capital Group stands out as the most popular global asset manager in Latin America, supported by its strong long-term track record, deep relationships with regional selectors, and a product offering that aligns well with local demand for global diversification, active management, and consistent client support.
