BlackRock Inc. is elevating several senior executives to expand its business in the Americas and with key institutional clients, following the announced departure of Mark Wiedman, once seen as a potential successor to Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink.

Asset manager BlackRock's senior executive Mark Wiedman, who was touted to be a potential successor to CEO Larry Fink, is departing the firm, said two sources familiar with the matter.

Wiedman, head of the global client business, was instrumental in driving BlackRock's growth in passive investing.

BlackRock posted a 21% fourth quarter jump in profit after buoyant equity markets increased income from fees and drove its assets to a record high of $11.6 trillion, the world's largest money manager said on Wednesday.

With impressive growth in assets under management (AUM), which reached a record $11.6 trillion, BlackRock ended the quarter and fiscal 2024 on a high note.

BlackRock said in its fourth-quarter earnings report Wednesday that assets under management jumped to a record $11.55 trillion, up from $10 trillion a year ago. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected BlackRock to report a record $11.