Kate El-Hillow has joined Russell as global chief investment officer, while Kevin Klingert has been hired as president. Ms El-Hillow has held several senior investment roles at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, while Mr Klinger has held leadership roles at BlackRock and Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Both will report to chief executive Michelle Seitz.
“Kate and Kevin join us at a critical time, as asset owners increasingly look to partner with solutions providers that deliver highly customised investment strategies tailored to specific outcomes,” Ms Seitz said.
“Although we continue to see significant demand for investment solutions, only one in four asset owners with less than US$10 billion in assets have outsourced their investment activities. Kate and Kevin will further enable Russell Investments to capture the industry’s growth while leveraging our expansive global franchise to provide a frictionless experience to our clients.”
Ms El-Hillow will oversee all aspects of the firm’s investment division, including portfolio management, implementation, and research. She previously spent eight years at JPMorgan Chase & Co, where she held the dual roles of client portfolio manager and chief operating officer in the asset allocation business.
“I am thrilled to lead this exceptional team. There are very few firms that offer Russell Investments’ one-stop access to end-to-end investment solutions, proprietary risk management tools, and trading and implementation capabilities,” Ms El-Hillow said.
“Clients today are grappling with more complex investment problems, and Russell Investments is uniquely positioned to provide holistic solutions that will help them achieve their goals.”
Mr Klingert spent 15 years at BlackRock and was responsible for the launch of its tax-exempt fixed-income business in 1991. He also managed the firm’s cash management business and served on the management committee.
“I’m excited to extend the trajectory of our growing franchise. This industry and our segment are both evolving quickly, and I believe we are one of the few firms with the sense of urgency and execution capability needed to continue to exceed client expectations,” Mr Klingert said.
