NEW YORK CITY—BlackRock, the world's largestasset manager, is combining its real estate and infrastructureplatforms into a real assets group, effective Feb.1, according to published reports. The move is part of a broadrestructuring of the company's leadership.

IPE and CIO reported that JimBarry, currently head of BlackRock's global infrastructuregroup, will lead the new real assets group. MarcusSperber will continue in his role as global head of realestate, reporting to Barry.

"A deliberate and consistent approach to reshaping ourorganization to maximize the full power of BlackRock is somethingwe are deeply committed to, " BlackRock chairman and chiefexecutive Larry Fink and president RobKapito wrote in a memo to staff. "Given the uncertaintycreated by central bank actions around the world, clients arevaluing guidance on fixed income markets from a global perspective.We will meet that need and build on the strong investmentperformance that our fixed income teams are delivering today bycreating a truly global franchise under the leadership of widelyrespected, world-class investors."