Martin Flanagan

Martin L. Flanagan
Birthplace	United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive, investment management leader
Title	Former President and CEO, Invesco
Employer	Ascot Group (Board member)
Known for	President and CEO of Invesco (2005–2023)

Martin L. Flanagan is an American business executive who served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Invesco, one of the world's largest independent investment management firms. He led the company from 2005 through 2023, a period during which Invesco grew to manage approximately $1.3 trillion in assets. During his tenure, Flanagan oversaw significant strategic initiatives, including expansion into global markets, the growth of exchange-traded fund (ETF) offerings, and a series of acquisitions that reshaped the firm's competitive position in the asset management industry. Under his leadership, Invesco navigated a number of challenging economic environments, including the 2008 global financial crisis, the European sovereign debt crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Following his retirement from Invesco, Flanagan transitioned into board-level roles in the financial services sector, joining the board of directors of Ascot Group, a Bermuda-domiciled global specialty reinsurer, in 2025.

Career

Leadership at Invesco

Martin Flanagan became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Invesco in 2005. Invesco, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a publicly traded global investment management company that provides a range of financial products and services to retail and institutional investors around the world. The firm operates across multiple investment disciplines, including equity, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset strategies, and is one of the largest independent asset managers globally.

Under Flanagan's leadership, Invesco pursued a strategy of diversification and global expansion. The firm grew substantially in terms of assets under management, reaching approximately $1.3 trillion by early 2021. This growth was driven by a combination of organic asset gathering, strategic acquisitions, and the development of new investment capabilities. One of the defining features of Flanagan's tenure was the emphasis on building a comprehensive investment platform that could serve a wide range of client needs across geographies and asset classes.

Global Expansion and China

A notable aspect of Flanagan's strategic vision was his focus on international markets, particularly China. In a 2021 interview with Bloomberg, Flanagan identified China as a significant opportunity for Invesco, reflecting the firm's broader commitment to establishing a presence in fast-growing economies. Invesco had been among the early Western asset managers to establish joint ventures and operations in China, and Flanagan's public commentary underscored the firm's belief in the long-term growth potential of the Chinese market for asset management services.

The expansion into China and other international markets was part of a broader strategic framework under Flanagan's leadership that sought to position Invesco as a truly global investment manager. This included building out capabilities in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other regions, and developing products tailored to local market conditions and regulatory frameworks.

Views on Emerging Financial Trends

Flanagan's leadership period coincided with significant shifts in the financial industry, including the rise of passive investing, the proliferation of exchange-traded funds, and the emergence of digital assets such as Bitcoin. In the same 2021 Bloomberg interview, Flanagan expressed caution regarding Bitcoin and special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs), viewing them as areas of elevated risk. This perspective reflected a broader approach at Invesco that balanced innovation with risk management, seeking to capitalize on new trends while maintaining fiduciary discipline.

Invesco became one of the largest ETF providers in the world during Flanagan's tenure, in part through the firm's acquisition of PowerShares and subsequent integration and expansion of its ETF lineup. The growth of the ETF business was a central component of Invesco's strategy to meet evolving investor demand for low-cost, transparent, and liquid investment products.

Navigating Economic Crises

Flanagan's nearly two-decade leadership of Invesco spanned several periods of significant economic and financial market disruption. The 2008 global financial crisis presented severe challenges to the asset management industry, including steep declines in asset values, heightened client anxiety, and increased regulatory scrutiny. Under Flanagan's stewardship, Invesco navigated this period and subsequently rebuilt and expanded its business.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020, also tested the firm's operational resilience and strategic direction. In his 2021 Bloomberg interview, Flanagan discussed how the pandemic had changed business practices at Invesco, including accelerated adoption of remote work and digital engagement with clients. The pandemic period also saw significant market volatility followed by a rapid recovery, during which Invesco's diversified investment platform helped the firm capture inflows across multiple asset classes.

Acquisitions and Strategic Transactions

During Flanagan's tenure, Invesco completed a number of significant acquisitions that reshaped the firm's scale and capabilities. These transactions were part of a deliberate strategy to build a diversified global platform. While the specific details and financial terms of each acquisition are extensively documented in Invesco's public filings and press releases, the cumulative effect was to transform Invesco from a mid-sized asset manager into one of the industry's largest independent players.

One of the most significant transactions during Flanagan's leadership was the acquisition of OppenheimerFunds, which was completed in 2019. This deal substantially increased Invesco's assets under management and expanded the firm's distribution network. The integration of OppenheimerFunds was a complex undertaking that required the combination of investment teams, technology platforms, and client relationships.

Departure from Invesco

Flanagan served as President and CEO of Invesco for approximately 18 years, making him one of the longer-tenured leaders of a major global asset management firm. His tenure was characterized by a focus on building scale, diversifying the investment platform, and expanding the firm's global footprint. Following his departure from the CEO role, Flanagan transitioned to advisory and board positions in the financial services industry.

Post-Invesco Career

In June 2025, Ascot Group, a Bermuda-domiciled global specialty reinsurer and insurer, announced the appointment of Martin Flanagan to its Board of Directors. He was appointed alongside Rosalind Brewer, the former CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance, and Robert Sewell. Ascot Group operates as a global specialty re/insurance company, and the addition of Flanagan to its board reflected the firm's interest in drawing on experienced financial services leaders to guide its strategic direction. Flanagan's appointment to the Ascot board represented a continuation of his involvement in the financial services sector at the governance level following his operational leadership at Invesco.

Recognition

Martin Flanagan's long tenure as CEO of a major publicly traded investment management firm placed him among the more prominent figures in the global asset management industry. During his leadership, Invesco grew to become one of the largest independent investment management companies in the world, with assets under management reaching approximately $1.3 trillion. His views on financial markets, investment trends, and economic policy were sought by major financial media outlets, as evidenced by his interviews with Bloomberg and other publications.

Flanagan's appointment to the board of Ascot Group in 2025, alongside other prominent business leaders such as Rosalind Brewer, further reflected his standing within the broader financial services community. Board appointments of this nature are typically reserved for executives with significant track records of leadership at major organizations.

Throughout his career, Flanagan was recognized for his role in building Invesco's global platform and for steering the firm through multiple periods of market disruption. His public commentary on topics such as the opportunities in the Chinese market and the risks associated with emerging financial instruments like Bitcoin provided insight into his approach to investment management leadership.

Legacy

Martin Flanagan's legacy in the investment management industry is closely tied to the transformation of Invesco during his nearly two decades of leadership. When he assumed the CEO role in 2005, Invesco was a significant but not dominant player in the global asset management landscape. By the time of his departure, the firm had grown into one of the world's largest independent investment managers, with a diversified global platform spanning equities, fixed income, alternatives, ETFs, and multi-asset strategies.

The strategic acquisitions completed under Flanagan's leadership, including the OppenheimerFunds deal, fundamentally altered Invesco's scale and competitive positioning. The firm's expansion into international markets, particularly in Asia and China, reflected a forward-looking approach to global growth that anticipated the increasing importance of emerging markets to the asset management industry.

Flanagan's leadership also coincided with and contributed to broader industry trends, including the growth of passive investing and ETFs. Invesco's development into one of the world's largest ETF providers occurred during his tenure, and this shift toward scalable, low-cost investment products became a central element of the firm's strategy.

His cautious public stance on speculative financial instruments such as Bitcoin and SPACs, articulated during his 2021 Bloomberg interview, reflected a leadership philosophy that emphasized disciplined risk management and a focus on long-term value creation for clients and shareholders.

Following his operational leadership at Invesco, Flanagan's transition to board-level roles in the financial services sector, including his appointment to the Ascot Group board, indicated continued engagement with the industry at a strategic governance level.