SAN MATEO, CA and LONDON and SINGAPORE--(Marketwire - Jul 16, 2012) - Franklin Templeton Investments today announced that Andrew Ashton and Dennis Rothe have been appointed to new roles overseeing consultant/gatekeeper relations and investment research for the company's International Advisory Services and North America Advisory Services divisions, respectively.

In his new role as head of Consultant and Research Group - International, Ashton will focus on Franklin Templeton's global consulting partners and cross-border financial institutions outside of North America, working with Franklin Templeton distribution teams across its international offices. Effective August 2012, Ashton will move from his current role as senior director for Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (CEEMEA), to his new position reporting to Jed Plafker, president of Franklin Templeton International and head of International Advisory Services.

Ashton will work closely with Dennis Rothe, head of Consultant and Research Group - North America, who earlier this year was appointed to an expanded role overseeing consultant relations and investment research for broker-dealers, retirement platforms and insurance companies across North America. Rothe reports to Peter Jones, president of Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. and Franklin Templeton Institutional, LLC; Jones has overall responsibility for the North American Advisory Services division. Both Ashton and Rothe have 15 years' tenure with Franklin Templeton.

"With the increasing complexity and globalization of our business, and the ongoing importance of institutional and gatekeeper driven business, it is essential that we continue to meet the evolving needs of global consultants, global distributors, broker-dealers and retirement platforms," said Plafker. "We are delighted to have Andrew and Dennis in these new leadership roles, which leverage their extensive experience and effectively position Franklin Templeton with the growing consultant and gatekeeper community."

Jones added, "Gatekeepers and consultants are leading indicators of product demand and the conduit to shareholders and clients. In their new roles, Andrew, Dennis and their teams are uniquely positioned to monitor the product landscape, further raise awareness of Franklin Templeton's diverse global product offerings, and leverage best practices across the institutional and retail markets."

In a related move, Franklin Templeton also announced that effective August 2012, Adam Quaife will become senior director for Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, replacing Ashton in that role. Quaife will report to Vivek Kudva, managing director, India and CEEMEA. Previously, Quaife was sales director and head of Institutional for Franklin Templeton Investments Australia.

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 over $706 billion at June 30, 2012. For more information, please call 1-800/DIAL BEN^® or visit franklinresources.com.

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