Career Success Interviews with Successful Leaders
Read about career successes from interviews we conducted with successful leaders in the investment field to uncover their “secrets of success.” These insights and experiences they share are invaluable. You will find that almost everyone we interviewed suggests that their careers and levels of success would have benefited even more from knowing earlier what they know now about career management. Read the interviews in a combined document (157 pages) or choose individual interviews below. These interviews are one section of the Career Success: Navigating the New Work Environment, Third Edition which examines the changing setting in which investment professionals find themselves managing their careers. You can also access the full book here.
Christopher J. Ailman 15 PAGES
Chief Investment Officer, California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS)
Chris Ailman is the chief investment officer (CIO) of the second-largest pension fund in the United States, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS). He joined CalSTRS in 2000 and has more than 25 years of institutional investment management experience. In 2000, Mr. Ailman received the CIO of the Year–IFE Leadership Award. In 2003, his state CIO peers awarded him the Richard Stoddard Award for service in the investment of pension funds. In 2011, he received Institutional Investor’s Large Public Fund Manager of the Year Award, and in 2013, he was ranked third in the Power 100 CIOs from aiCIO magazine. Also in 2013, Mr. Ailman earned the CFA Institute Investment Foundations certificate (formerly the Claritas Investment Certificate).
John C. Bogle 6 PAGES
Founder and Former CEO, The Vanguard Group
President of Vanguard’s Bogle Financial Markets Research Center
John C. Bogle founded The Vanguard Group, the world’s largest mutual fund management company by assets, in 1974. He served as chairman and chief executive officer until 1996 and as senior chairman until 2000. Mr. Bogle has been recognized as one of the four “investment giants” of the 20th century by Fortune magazine and as one of the world’s 100 most powerful and influential people by Time magazine. He is the author of 10 books on investing, including several bestsellers. Mr. Bogle currently serves as the president of Vanguard’s Bogle Financial Markets Research Center.
Alan Brown, FSIP 12 PAGES
Former Chief Investment Officer, Schroders plc
Alan Brown, FSIP, is the former CIO, executive director, and member of the Group Management Committee at Schroders plc. He joined Schroders in 2005 and was appointed to its board in July 2005. Prior to joining Schroders, Mr. Brown served as group CIO, vice chairman, and executive vice president at State Street Corporation. In addition, he was a CFA Institute SFMI Advisory Council member from 2005 to 2007 and served as chair of the council from 2007 to 2010.
Daisuke Hamaguchi 12 PAGES
Director and Chief Investment Officer, Pension Fund Association
Daisuke Hamaguchi is one of the most influential thought leaders in Japan’s pension fund industry. He oversees the activities of the Pension Fund Association (PFA), one of the largest pension funds in Japan. Prior to joining PFA, Mr. Hamaguchi was chief investment officer of Mitsubishi Corporation Pension Fund and deputy treasurer of Mitsubishi Corporation. Mr. Hamaguchi received a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from Kyoto University and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Bojan Ivanc, CFA 5 PAGES
Chief Economist, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
Bojan Ivanc, CFA, has more than 10 years of experience as an asset manager, analyst, and economist in Slovenia. Mr. Ivanc has a Bachelor of Science degree from Ekonomska Fakulteta and a Master of Business degree from Burgundy School of Business. He holds the CAIA designation. Mr. Ivanc has served in leadership roles at CFA Society Slovenia.
Eleanor Kigen, CFA 4 PAGES
Head of Projects, Moeish Consult Limited
Eleanor Kigen, CFA, has more than 14 years of experience in accounting, investment analysis, portfolio management, and research in Kenya and South Africa. She earned both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from the United States International University-Africa in 2003 and 2014, respectively. Ms. Kigen has served in leadership roles for CFA Society East Africa.
Ramin Modiri, CFA 6 PAGES
President, Modiri Asset Management
Ramin Modiri, CFA, is a private wealth professional with more than 23 years of experience in asset management and as an entrepreneur. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut and a Master of Science in finance degree from the College for Financial Planning. Mr. Modiri holds the CFP, CFS, and ChFC designations.
Derek Mok, CFA 5 PAGES
Chief Investment Officer, Convoy Asset Management Ltd. and Fubon Convoy Asset Management (HK) Ltd.
Derek Mok, CFA, is chief investment officer at Convoy Asset Management Ltd. and Fubon Convoy Asset Management (HK) Ltd. Previously, he was head of asset management and CIO at RHB Asset Management Limited. Based in Hong Kong, Mr. Mok has extensive research and investment management experience that spans more than two decades. He holds the FRM designation and is a CPA (Aust.) and a fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Mok holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Monash University, a master’s degree in investment management (with a concentration in financial engineering) from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and a Master of Arts degree from Macquarie University.
Helena Morrissey 7 PAGES
Chief Executive Officer, Newton Investment Management Ltd.
Helena Morrissey is CEO of Newton Investment Management, a UK-based global multi-asset specialist. She joined Newton in 1994 and was appointed CEO in 2001. Ms. Morrissey was the first female director of the United Kingdom’s Investment Management Association. She was recently named by Bloomberg one of the “50 Most Influential People” in finance worldwide. In 2010, Ms. Morrissey founded the 30% Club, a cross-company initiative aimed at bringing more women on board through voluntary change. She was appointed CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 2012 for services to British business. A Cambridge graduate, Ms. Morrissey is married with nine children.
Navneet Munot, CFA 4 PAGES
Chief Investment Officer, SBI Mutual Fund
Navneet Munot, CFA, is chief investment officer at SBI Mutual Fund. He has over two decades of experience in financial markets, working in such areas as fixed income, equities, and foreign exchange. Mr. Munot has held executive and leadership roles in a number of companies in India, and he has managed several funds recognized for consistent superior risk-adjusted performance and which have won several awards from such organizations as CRISIL-CNBC TV 18, ICRA, and Thomson Reuters Lipper. He holds designations from CAIA and GARP and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Mr. Munot has a postgraduate degree in accountancy and business statistics.
Sami Nabulsi, CFA 5 PAGES
Director of Private Equity, Qatar First Bank
Sami Nabulsi, CFA, brings with him over 14 years of private equity, investment banking, and asset management experience with leading institutions in the Middle East. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University and an MBA from NYIT. Mr. Nabulsi has also served as the president of CFA Society Qatar.
Jacqueline Ruedin Rüsch 5 PAGES
Founder and CEO, Privilège Management SA
Jacqueline Ruedin Rüsch is the founder and CEO of Privilège Management SA, a wealth management company targeting private and institutional clients. Since its founding, Privilège Management has expanded its activity in venture capital and fund distribution. Ms. Rüsch graduated with an economics degree from Università degli Studi di Pavia in Pavia, Italy, and proceeded to acquire in-depth experience in wealth management, relationship client management, fund structuring, and fund distribution in important Swiss banks, before founding Privilège Management SA in Lugano in 2011.
Aje Saigal, CFA 8 PAGES
Founder and CEO, Nuvest Capital
Aje Saigal, CFA, is a veteran of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. He started his 30-year career with GIC as an equity portfolio manager, was promoted to chief investment officer of global equities in 1990 and was appointed director of economics and investment strategy in 2005. Widely respected as an expert in global asset allocation, Mr. Saigal currently serves as the CEO and CIO of Nuvest Capital, based in Singapore, a firm he started in 2012.
George U. “Gus” Sauter 15 PAGES
Retired Chief Investment Officer and Retained as Senior Consultant, The Vanguard Group
As the chief investment officer of The Vanguard Group, Gus Sauter oversaw almost $2 trillion in fixed-income and equity mutual funds. He is an influential thought leader of the global investment industry. Mr. Sauter is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Chicago and joined Vanguard in 1987.
Mohammad Shoaib, CFA 5 PAGES
CEO, Al Meezan Investment Management
Mohammad Shoaib, CFA, is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in Pakistani capital markets and the fund management business. He earned an MBA from IBA. Mr. Shoaib founded CFA Society Pakistan and has served as its president. In addition, he has been a member of the Asia-Pacific Advocacy Committee of CFA Institute and a member of the CFA Institute Global Corporate Governance Task Force, working to develop international standards of corporate governance. Mr. Shoaib has also served as the CFA Institute Presidents’ Council Representative for Asia Pacific. Prior to joining Al Meezan Investments in Karachi, Pakistan, he served as senior vice president and head of the capital markets division at PKIC. During his tenure of five years, the PKIC equity portfolio expanded from PKR60 million to over PKR3 billion.
Jonathan Stein, CFA 6 PAGES
CEO and Founder, Betterment
Jonathan Stein, CFA, is the CEO and founder of Betterment. Prior to launching Betterment, he was a consultant for First Manhattan Consulting Group. Mr. Stein earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his MBA from Columbia Business School.
Sornchai Suneta, CFA 5 PAGES
Chief Investment Officer, Wealth Segment, Siam Commercial Bank
Sornchai Suneta, CFA, is chief investment officer, wealth segment, at Siam Commercial Bank in Thailand. He has more than 20 years of experience in trading and investment management in Thailand and Hong Kong, and he has served in leadership roles as a board member at CFA Society Thailand. Mr. Suneta holds an MSc in financial management from the University of London.
Laura Taylor, CFA 5 PAGES
Managing Partner and Chief Financial Officer, Nephila Capital Limited
Laura Taylor, CFA, is a managing partner and chief financial officer at Nephila Capital Limited, an investment manager focused on natural catastrophe risk. Previously, Ms. Taylor served as chief operations officer at Nephila and worked in the alternative investment and banking practice at KPMG. She was named one of the 100 Influential Women in Re/Insurance by Intelligent Insurer and one of 50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds by the Hedge Fund Journal. Ms. Taylor holds a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Victoria as well as the Chartered Accountant and Certified Public Accountant designations.
Roger Urwin 11 PAGES
Global Head of Investment Content, Towers Watson
Roger Urwin joined Watson Wyatt (now Towers Watson) in 1989 to start the firm’s investment consulting practice. Under his leadership, the practice grew to a global team of more than 500 consultants. He is widely regarded as a thought leader and one of the most respected investment consultants globally. Mr. Urwin has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in applied statistics from the University of Oxford. He qualified as a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 1983. Mr. Urwin has served on the Board of Governors of CFA Institute and is the author of numerous papers on asset allocation policy, manager selection, governance, and sustainable investing.
Jean-Paul Villain 11 PAGES
Director and Head of Strategy Unit, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
Jean-Paul Villain is considered one of the most talented and innovative investment strategists in the industry. He is also the first expatriate to be appointed a director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. Since 1976, the senior management team of ADIA, including Mr. Villain, has delivered significant investment outperformance on a very large asset base, which is a truly impressive accomplishment. In 2007, he was given France’s highest decoration—Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.
Lizzie Yu, CFA 5 PAGES
Director, Relationship Management, Standard Chartered Bank
Lizzie Yu, CFA, is a client relations professional in Shenzhen, China. She completed university in 2001 and initially went to work for a private company in China. In 2002, Ms. Yu joined Standard Chartered Bank, where she was subsequently promoted to director of client relations. She works with corporate clients from South China, providing a full range of banking products.