Key Takeaways
- • Vikas Shetty, Blackstone's head of APAC talent acquisition, has joined Goldman Sachs as Managing Director and head of recruiting for Asia Pacific, marking a significant talent flow between the two firms in the region.
- • Shetty spent approximately 16 months at Blackstone before returning to banking, having previously held APAC front office recruiting roles at JPMorgan and worked across Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank recruiting functions.
- • Both Goldman Sachs and Blackstone are rapidly scaling their Asian operations and ranked in the top 10 asset management firms in Asia in 2026, with Blackstone rising three places to seventh and Goldman Sachs entering the top 10 at ninth according to Broadridge research.
- • Blackstone has significantly expanded APAC private wealth headcount, with the region doubling in size over the past two years, creating substantial recruiting demands that Goldman Sachs now aims to address with Shetty's expertise.
- • Goldman Sachs Asset Management has been recognized by CEO David Solomon as one of the bank's fastest-growing divisions, making talent acquisition in Asia a strategic priority for the institution.
Summary
Vikas Shetty, who served as head of APAC talent acquisition at Blackstone, has departed to join Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong as a Managing Director and head of recruiting for the Goldman Sachs Asia Pacific region. The transition, occurring approximately 16 months after Shetty joined Blackstone, underscores the competitive talent dynamics between major alternative asset managers and traditional banking institutions competing for influence in Asian markets.
Shetty's background spans multiple tiers of the financial services recruiting ecosystem. Prior to Blackstone, he held the position of APAC lead for front office recruiting at JPMorgan and worked in recruiting functions across Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank, providing him with deep industry relationships and understanding of hiring patterns across asset management and banking divisions. His recruitment expertise extends beyond banker placement to include asset management team building, experience that aligns with Goldman Sachs Asset Management's strategic expansion priorities.
The hire reflects intensifying competition for talent between Blackstone and Goldman Sachs in Asia. Blackstone has substantially ramped hiring across the region, with private wealth team headcount doubling over the past two years according to Bloomberg reporting from January 2026. Goldman Sachs Asset Management, identified by CEO David Solomon as one of the bank's fastest-growing divisions, requires expanded recruiting infrastructure to support continued regional expansion. A 2026 Broadridge study positioned both firms prominently in Asian asset management, with Blackstone rising three positions to rank seventh and Goldman Sachs entering the top 10 at ninth.
Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the appointment. The move illustrates how specialized recruiting talent has become a sought-after resource among competing financial institutions scaling operations in high-growth markets, with individual recruiters now commanding enough institutional knowledge to justify senior-level compensation and title elevation.
Shetty's background spans multiple tiers of the financial services recruiting ecosystem. Prior to Blackstone, he held the position of APAC lead for front office recruiting at JPMorgan and worked in recruiting functions across Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank, providing him with deep industry relationships and understanding of hiring patterns across asset management and banking divisions. His recruitment expertise extends beyond banker placement to include asset management team building, experience that aligns with Goldman Sachs Asset Management's strategic expansion priorities.
The hire reflects intensifying competition for talent between Blackstone and Goldman Sachs in Asia. Blackstone has substantially ramped hiring across the region, with private wealth team headcount doubling over the past two years according to Bloomberg reporting from January 2026. Goldman Sachs Asset Management, identified by CEO David Solomon as one of the bank's fastest-growing divisions, requires expanded recruiting infrastructure to support continued regional expansion. A 2026 Broadridge study positioned both firms prominently in Asian asset management, with Blackstone rising three positions to rank seventh and Goldman Sachs entering the top 10 at ninth.
Goldman Sachs declined to comment on the appointment. The move illustrates how specialized recruiting talent has become a sought-after resource among competing financial institutions scaling operations in high-growth markets, with individual recruiters now commanding enough institutional knowledge to justify senior-level compensation and title elevation.
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