BlackRock has appointed James Charrington, its Emea chairman, to a new role with a focus on regulation, governance and people. He will continue in his current role but will also work on broad regulatory issues as the firm's liaison with the UK government and representative on the board of the UK Investment Management Association. The company has also announced that former Swiss Re chief investment officer David Blumer will join BlackRock in the newly created position of head of Emea. He will carry out a number of functions including developing a strategic plan. He will serve as the firm's executive representative with the FSA, chair BlackRock's Emea executive committee, and join its global executive committee as a senior managing director.