Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO)
Capital at risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.
How OCIO services can add value to institutions
Outsourced Chief Investment Officers, or OCIOs, act as an extension of an institution’s investment team.
Increasing complexity and governance demands are leading many institutions to reassess how investment decisions are made.
Why BlackRock for OCIO?
BlackRock has been managing assets on a fiduciary basis for clients for 20 years. Our global investment and technology platform enables us to support clients with integrated portfolio management and access to a wide range of opportunities.
Dedicated client service
Our client CIOs specialise by client type, working closely with institutions to design portfolios aligned to their objectives.
Comprehensive investment platform
We provide access to a wide range of capabilities across public and private markets, supported by dedicated manager research.
Technology powered
Using Aladdin®, we provide portfolio transparency and risk insights to support more informed decision‑making.
Scale and efficiency
Our global scale supports access to investment opportunities and operational efficiency across portfolio management.
Meet BlackRock’s OCIO team
OCIO leadership
Sion Cole, Managing Director
Defined Benefit
BlackRock’s OCIO team have a historic deep-rooted experience with DB pension schemes. Being the trusted partner of choice for over 850 UK pension schemes, our experience in managing pensions at every stage of their life cycle, up to and including buyout, can give trustees confidence that we have the experience and skill set to manage their schemes.1
Our OCIO services for DB pension schemes include:
- A liability-driven investing platform within a global fixed-income business.
- Bespoke portfolios designed to help improve or preserve funded-status levels.
- Designing a customised alternatives portfolio in a lower-cost, accessible way.
Defined Contribution
From strategy design to lifecycle planning and implementation, our dedicated portfolio managers invest contributions, carry out rebalancing, and implement our latest views on behalf of clients. The DC team also focus on providing a framework for decumulation to support members both pre- and post-retirement.
Our OCIO services for DC pension schemes include:
- “To and through” retirement solutions by integrating income, savings and spending into the investment design.
- Selecting strategies considering the asset class, operating model, tax and regulatory factors.
- Building optimal portfolios to meet scheme and member objectives, investing across both public and private markets to increase portfolio sophistication.
- Designing bespoke investment solutions tailored to align with the corporate's sustainability goals for members.
Family Offices, Endowments, Foundations and Insurers
Increasingly complex responsibilities and often resource constraints are some of the reasons why family offices, endowments, foundations and insurers are leveraging BlackRock’s outsourced investment offering.
Our OCIO services for family offices, endowments, foundations and insurers include:
- Bespoke multi asset and single asset class investment solutions.
- Incorporates 'best practices' for governance.
- Offers a performance accountable approach.
- Provides access to top private market managers.
- Leverages industry-leading risk management tools.
Hear from our OCIO team
Hear directly from our OCIO specialists on how we partner with clients across the institutional landscape to support their long-term objectives.
Outsourced Chief Investment Officer & Family Offices with Scott Harris
Scott Harris, EMEA OCIO lead for Family Offices, Endowments, Foundations & Insurers, sits down with Vicky Matthews, Head of Family Offices, Endowments and Foundations to explore why Family Offices are turning to BlackRock for their OCIO.
Contact our team
Latest OCIO Insights
Frequently Asked Questions
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An Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) is a model where an asset owner delegates some or all investment management responsibilities to a third-party provider. The asset owner typically retains oversight and strategic control.
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An OCIO supports clients with a range of activities, including asset allocation, manager selection, portfolio construction and ongoing monitoring, within an agreed governance framework.
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OCIO services are typically used by institutional investors such as pension schemes, insurers, endowments and foundations.
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Delegating day-to-day investment decisions may allow for more timely implementation and access to broader investment capabilities. Outcomes will depend on market conditions and client objectives.
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OCIO can support organisations with limited internal resources by taking on operational and investment responsibilities, allowing internal teams to focus on strategic priorities.
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OCIO can support governance by providing structured processes, ongoing monitoring and reporting, within a clearly defined decision-making framework agreed with the client.
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OCIO providers typically use research and due diligence processes to evaluate managers, with ongoing monitoring to ensure continued alignment with portfolio objectives and governance requirements
Related Resources
1 Source: BlackRock, as at 31 December 2025
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