In what year did the term "asset management" start to be used?

The term "asset management" began emerging formally in the early 1980s , particularly within infrastructure sectors. The IAM recognizes 1980 as the foundational point when structured approaches began to evolve around lifecycle and value-centric practices.

Reference from IAM historical insights:

“The structured use of the term ‘asset management’ began in the 1980s, focusing initially on infrastructure and utility sectors before becoming more universally adopted.”

(Source: IAM Historical Overview, Introduction to Asset Management)