Russell Investments has appointed James Polisson as managing director of Russell’s global exchange-traded fund business and Andrew Arenberg as managing director of global ETF distribution.

Previously they were both instrumental in building BGI’s global iShares business. They joined Russell in mid-January and will be based in San Francisco.

“Russell’s heritage of innovation and thought leadership across the spectrum of investment services uniquely positions us to be a leader in the next evolution of the ETF industry,” says Russell’s chief executive and president Andrew Doman. “I’m very pleased to welcome both of these experienced ETF innovators to Russell in order to marshal ‘next-generation’ thinking on a broad range of ETF-related opportunities.”

Polisson (pictured) adds: “We look forward to focusing on next-generation solutions for the ETF industry with a mission to complement what’s currently available with new, innovative strategies. This is the right time, Russell is uniquely positioned, and I’m excited to have this opportunity to guide Russell’s global ETF team.”

Polisson previously served as BGI’s chief marketing officer with responsibilities that included BGI’s iShares global business. At BGI since 1998, he was head of global operations risk management for two years before joining the iShares business.

Arenberg previously worked as a managing director in BGI’s global eBusiness, and he served as managing director of channel marketing for BGI for six years. He was instrumental in growing and managing US iShares’ marketing activities and building out the iShares presence in Asia Pacific and Latin America. Prior to joining BGI, he served on the corporate strategy team and in the institutional business at Charles Schwab.