Speaker Bios
RAVI ARULANANTHAM
Ravi is the Global Head of Product at Russell Investments. In this role, Ravi leads the firm’s efforts to develop new products and manage the existing line of retail and institutional offerings across the firm’s footprint in North America, EMEA, and APAC. |
HEATHER BRILLIANT
Heather serves as chief executive officer for Diamond Hill and joined the firm in 2019. |
NICK CHERNEY
Nick Cherney is Head of Innovation at Janus Henderson Investors. In this role, he is responsible for helping the firm and its clients to identify, understand, and execute on longer horizon developments that have potentially disruptive impact to the way business is managed, and clients manage their investments. He is also responsible for the firm’s exchange traded funds (ETF) business and is President and Chief Executive Officer of Janus Detroit Street Trust, and Clayton Street Trust. Nick is a member of the firm’s Strategic Leadership Team, is the executive sponsor of the Black Professional Network, and is committed to advancing DEI in financial services. Previously, Nick was the Chief Investment Officer and co-founder at VelocityShares until Janus’ acquisition of the company in 2014. Earlier, he held product management and development responsibilities for iPath ETNs at Barclays Capital. Before that, Nick was a portfolio manager at Barclays Global Investors managing over US$25 billion of ETF assets. |
TODD CONKLIN
Todd Conklin currently leads Treasury's cyber portfolio under Deputy Secretary Adeyemo, while also serving as Treasury's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Office of Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection. In addition to leading internal IT modernization efforts, Todd designed and implemented Treasury's counter-ransomware strategy consisting of updated crypto industry guidance and targeted sanctions actions. |
PATRICK CURTIN
Pat is the North American Head of Securities Services responsible for Custody, Fund Services, Execution Services and Issuer Services in the region. This includes all client relationships, service and product development areas as well as operational delivery and Technology. Pat has been with Citi since 2010 and has helped lead the transformation and growth of the franchise. Prior to joining Citi, Pat was the Americas Head for Securities Services at BNY Mellon for nearly 10 years. Prior to BNY Mellon, Patrick was at J.P. Morgan, where he ran Portfolio Analytics and Performance Measurement. Patrick started his career as a Fixed Income Portfolio Manager for a large U.K. Insurance Company and holds a B.S. in finance and an M.B.A. in finance as well the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He also serves on the boards of several charitable organizations. |
NICKOLAUS DARSCH
Nickolaus Darsch is a Managing Director at Ultimus Fund Solutions, responsible for client development activities and contributing to firm growth strategies. Nick focuses on building strategic investment adviser and industry partner relationships to support product structuring, governance, and operational design efforts. In addition, Nick leads the firm’s retail alternatives practice including interval and tender offer funds, business development companies, as well as wealth platforms. |
BILL EBSWORTH
William R. Ebsworth is an Independent Director of Allspring Funds. Ebsworth also serves as an Independent Trustee on the board of Massachusetts General Hospital’s Vincent Memorial Endowment, where he chairs the investment and audit committees. Before retiring in 2013, Ebsworth was an Equities Analyst, Portfolio Manager, Research Director, and Chief Investment Officer at Fidelity Investments in Boston, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Ebsworth has served on the boards of Hong Kong Securities Clearing Co., Hong Kong Options Clearing Corp., the Thailand International Fund, Ltd., Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company, and Empire Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company. |
J. STEPHEN FEINOUR JR.
Steve Feinour focuses his practice on counseling investment companies and investment advisers on a wide range of issues arising under the 1940 Act and other federal securities laws. He regularly advises clients on matters such as the formation, registration and ongoing regulation of all types of investment companies, including 1940 Act ETFs, 1933 Act only ETPs and mutual funds. In particular, Steve has advised numerous start-up investment advisers and established global investment firms in developing, launching and operating index-based and actively managed ETFs across all asset classes. This includes advising clients on digital asset related 1940 Act ETFs and 1933 Act only ETPs, including one of the industry’s first spot bitcoin ETFs. He is also a frequent speaker on ETF-related topics. |
GEORGE GATCH
George C.W. Gatch is CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. He joined the firm in 1986, and during his tenure, has helped build one of the world’s leading asset managers. Today, J.P. Morgan Asset Management operates in over 25 countries with 8,000 people, with a clear mission of becoming the most trusted asset manager and helping clients with their most complex investment needs. The business manages over $3 trillion across equities, fixed income, liquidity, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions on behalf of institutional, sovereign and retail clients globally. George chairs the Asset Management Operating Committee and also serves on the Asset and Wealth Management Operating Committee. |
GARY GENSLER
Gary Gensler was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden to serve as Chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission on February 3, 2021, confirmed by the US Senate on April 14, 2021, and sworn into office on April 17, 2021. |
JENNIFER GRANCIO
Ms. Grancio is the Global Head of Distribution for TCW. In this role she oversees global distribution, leads TCW’s ETF business, and directs TCW’s brand and digital marketing strategy. Ms. Grancio has more than 25 years of experience building and leading businesses across financial services. She was the CEO of Engine No. 1 until TCW acquired part of that firm’s business in October 2023. Before Engine No. 1, Jennifer founded an advisory firm where she worked closely with CEOs to accelerate growth. Prior to that she was a founding member of BlackRock’s iShares business, where she led European, U.S., and global distribution and drove the growth of the global ETF industry and iShares’ leadership role within it. During her 19-year tenure at BlackRock, she also led teams across wealth, technology, and venture investing. She started her career as a management consultant at PwC. She has been recognized on the Barron’s and Forbes top women in financial services and impact lists and is passionate and active in mentoring and developing diverse leaders and is also active in diabetes research and education. She currently serves as an independent director on the boards of MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ listed) and Ethic. Ms. Grancio received a BA with Honors in Economics and International Relations from Stanford University and an MBA from Columbia Business School. |
EVE GUERNSEY
Eve Guernsey serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Lord, Abbett mutual fund complex and is member of its Audit, Governance and Investment Committees. She has served on the Lord, Abbett board since 2011. Eve also serves as Chair of the Board of Strategic Investment Group, an OCIO firm based in Arlington, Virginia. Eve has served on Strategic’s board since 2020. Eve retired in October, 2010 from the position of Chief Executive Officer of JP Morgan Investment Management Americas, a position she held since 2002. She was responsible for strategy development and management of the Institutional Asset Management business, serving pension funds, endowments and foundations; JP Morgan Funds, the proprietary mutual funds business that serves both retail and high net worth clients; Global Liquidity, providing multicurrency cash management products to institutions worldwide and Retirement Plan Services, a defined contribution and defined benefit record keeper and administrator to US retirement plans. Eve chaired the Executive Committee for Investment Management Americas and was a member of the Operating Committee of JP Morgan’s Asset Management division. She also served on the Executive Committee of JP Morgan Chase and was a member of the board of directors for the JP Morgan Chase Foundation where she chaired the foundation’s Investment Committee and served on the foundation’s Audit Committee. |
CECILIA H. HERBERT
Cecilia H. Herbert is an Independent Trustee and past chair of the BlackRock iShares ETFs. She also chairs the finance committee of Stanford Health Care, which includes Stanford University’s School of Medicine and adult and children’s hospitals, and WNET, the public media station serving New York and New Jersey. She previously served on the mutual fund boards of the Montgomery Funds (1992–2003), Pacific Select Funds (2004–2005), Forward Funds (2009-2018), Salient Funds (2015–2018) and a Thrivent fund (2019-2022). Herbert has served as a board member on numerous nonprofit organizations, primarily with a focus on educational, social service, and healthcare. She is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Business School and a retired Managing Director from JP Morgan/ Morgan Guaranty. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum. Herbert has 3 adult children and lives in Jackson Hole with her husband. |
RYAN HICKE
Ryan Hicke is Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the global business strategy and execution for the company across our three pillars of expertise: technology, operations, and asset management. He also serves on our Board of Directors. |
YIE-HSIN HUNG
Yie-Hsin Hung is the President and Chief Executive Officer of State Street Global Advisors (SSGA). She is also the co-head of State Street Corporation’s strategy oversight efforts and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Hung has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in US Finance by Barron’s since its inception and among the 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance by American Banker for six consecutive years. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Northwestern University and as Vice Chair of the Board of the Investment Company Institute. Hung earned her MBA from Harvard University and BS in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University. |
JENNY JOHNSON
Jenny Johnson is President and Chief Executive Officer of Franklin Templeton. In a career at Franklin Templeton spanning over 30 years, she has been a key driver in the company's transformation to what is now one of the most respected global firms focused on investment management, technology, innovation, diversity and corporate and social responsibility. Ms. Johnson joined the firm in 1988 and held leadership roles in all major divisions of the business before becoming CEO in February 2020. She led the historic acquisition of Legg Mason in 2020, with the combined organization managing over $1.5 trillion in assets globally. |
KIMBERLY JOHNSON
Kimberly Johnson is the Chief Operating Officer. She is a Vice President of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. and member of the Management Committee, Product Strategy Committee, Investment Management Steering Committee and Enterprise Risk Management Committee, as well as chair of the Strategic Operating Committee. |
MATTHEW JOHNSON
Matt Johnson is Head of Product Strategy and Development and Marketing for Raymond James Investment Management and is responsible for product strategy, new product development and marketing. He joined Raymond James Investment Management in 2020, and previously worked at Raymond James Financial since 2015, including as Vice President of Strategy and Product Development for the Asset Management Group and Assistant to the Chairman. Before joining Raymond James, he worked in management consulting for the financial services industry. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stetson University and an M.B.A. from New York University. |
JODY JONSSON
Jody Jonsson is vice chair of Capital Group and president of Capital Research and Management Company. She also serves on the Capital Group Management Committee and is an equity portfolio manager. She has 39 years of investment industry experience and has been with Capital Group for 33 years. Earlier in her career, as an equity investment analyst at Capital, Jody covered insurance, U.S. household & personal care, restaurants & lodging, and cruise lines companies. Before joining Capital, she was an equity research analyst at Fidelity Management & Research Company in Boston and an officer in the public finance division of Irving Trust Company in New York. Jody holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was an Arjay Miller Scholar, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University graduating cum laude. Presently based in Los Angeles, she has also worked in Capital’s San Francisco, Geneva and London offices. |
JOSEPH KEENAN
Joe is the Independent Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the WisdomTree Digital Trust, a first of its kind tokenized mutual fund trust offering multi-chain functionality. With over 35 years of experience in the asset management, capital markets, and securities services industry, he is passionate about leveraging disruptive technologies including AI and DLT to create innovative solutions for the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem. |
KATIE KOCH
Katie Koch is President and Chief Executive Officer of TCW and serves as a member of the Board of Directors. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic direction and overall day-to-day management of the Firm. Prior to joining TCW in 2023, Koch spent 20 years with Goldman Sachs in the Asset Management Division (AMD), where she was a Partner and most recently served as Chief Investment Officer of the $300 billion Public Equity business and as a member of the AMD executive committee. Previously, she was based in London for 10 years where she held several leadership roles including Head of the Multi-Asset Solutions business internationally. |
ANTON KUZMANOV
Anton Kuzmanov is a Managing Director and Co-Head of Strategy for Investment Management at Morgan Stanley. He is a member of the Operating Committee of Investment Management. He joined the Firm in 2019 and has 25 years of industry experience in financial services and FinTech in strategy, growth and innovation across wealth management, asset management, insurance, retirement, capital markets and banking. Over the past dozen years, Anton has developed and executed business growth strategies including through acquisitions of over $10 billion in combined value and over $500 billion in assets under management. In the process, he helped transform one of the largest global asset managers (Nuveen) and the largest independent FinTech & RIA firms in the U.S. (Edelman Financial Engines). Earlier in his career, Anton worked at Goldman Sachs and EY. Anton has an MBA from the Wharton School and MA in International Studies from the Joseph Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania. |
SHAWN K. LYTLE
Shawn is Head of Equities & Multi-Asset for Macquarie Asset Management (MAM), where he is responsible for overseeing the business, investment teams, and strategies for clients. He also serves as the President of Delaware Funds by Macquarie® and oversees registered vehicle governance globally across MAM. More broadly, he serves as Head of Americas for Macquarie Group. |
DAN MARTINES
Dan Martines is a distinguished leader in Generative AI at BCG. He played a foundational role in establishing BCG's global Center for Generative AI and currently spearheads projects related to Gen AI and digital transformations. Dan is a Managing Director at BCG X, and has 25 years of expertise in technology, AI, and data. Dan actively engages with clients from across industries, with particularly emphasis in Financial Institutions, Insurance, and Healthcare. |
PATRICK McHENRY
Congressman Patrick McHenry is serving his ninth term as the representative for North Carolina's 10th Congressional District which comprises all or parts of eight counties in North Carolina, from the suburbs of Charlotte on Lake Norman to the Piedmont Triad region on the Virginia border. |
JOHN MONINGER
John Moninger is a managing director and the head of U.S. Distribution at Allspring Global Investments. In this capacity, he leads Allspring’s retail sales, institutional sales, platform development, client service, and consultant relations teams. He is responsible for leading efforts that identify ways to serve the firm’s existing and prospective client base. Prior to joining Allspring, John was with Eaton Vance Distributors as a managing director of retail sales where he set the strategic direction and day-to-day oversight of all intermediary distribution and relationship management. Before that, John was the executive vice president of advisory and brokerage consulting services at LPL Financial. Earlier roles for him include director of investment services at UBS Financial Services and cash management with AllianceBernstein. He is on the board of the Seal Family Foundation and is also actively involved with the Money Management Institute as former Chair of the Board of Governors. John began his investment industry career in 1994. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Kutztown University. He has earned the Certified Private Wealth Advisor and Certified Investment Management Analyst designations. |
ELLEN NEEDHAM
Ellen is an Independent Director for the 2023 ETF Series Trust after retiring from State Street Global Advisors as a Senior Managing Director with over 30 years of industry experience in board governance, succession planning, business resiliency, crisis management, operations and global investment product structures including mutual funds, ETFs, UCITS and collective investment trusts. She served as an effective board member on multiple fund and non-profit boards leading board alignments, corporate mergers, annual contract renewals, succession planning, due diligence, director onboarding and development. |
ERIC J. PAN
Eric J. Pan is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Company Institute. He took office as the 10th chief executive in ICI’s history on November 9, 2020. Pan was previously a Managing Director of Rock Creek Global Advisors LLC, an international economic policy advisory firm in Washington, DC, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Law and Economic Studies at Columbia Law School in New York. |
STEPHEN PATRICKAKOS
Stephen L. Patrickakos, CFA, CIMA® is a Managing Director and Head of Managed Investments. In this capacity Stephen leads the delivery of the firm’s investment product offerings across all channels, including Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Merrill Private Wealth Management, Bank of America Private Bank, Merrill Edge Self-directed and Merrill Guided Investing. Stephen’s team includes product management professionals who are responsible for product development, management and ongoing governance and investment oversight for domestic and offshore mutual funds, global exchange traded products, separately managed accounts, model portfolio solutions and money market funds. |
BEN PHILLIPS
Ben is a partner in Oliver Wyman’s Insurance and Asset Management Practice, based in New York. |
ANITA RAUSCH
Anita Rausch is a Senior Vice President and Global Head of ETF Capital Markets, managing the liquidity, tax efficiency, and trading education of AB’s suite of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Before joining the firm in 2022, she was head of Capital Markets for WisdomTree, a global ETF-only asset manager. Rausch has spent the better part of her career growing up alongside the ETF structure, starting on the sell side trading ETFs for the largest institutional clients at Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan and managing their ETF trading desks. She holds a BA in international business, with a minor in German, from the George Washington University. Location: New York |
HEIDI RIDLEY
Heidi the Co-Founder, CEO and Chair of the Board of Radiant Global Investors, culminating 30 years of leadership in asset management roles that encompass investments, product development, institutional and intermediary business development and marketing. |
DAVID ROKEACH
David Rokeach, VP & GM of Enterprise AI at Scale, is an expert in large-scale GenAI initiatives for the world’s largest companies. As the GM of the Enterprise business at Scale, he has led the strategy, development, and deployment of complex GenAI solutions and infrastructure across industries including wealth & asset management, financial services, insurance, telecom, retail & CPG, and more. |
ELIZABETH B. SCALF
Liz Scalf, JD, CAMS, serves as chief compliance officer and financial crimes executive for U.S. Bank Global Fund Services and oversees the Regulatory Support Services and Regulatory Administration teams. Liz previously served as CCO of four multimanager series trust serving unaffiliated advisers sponsored by U.S. Bank Global Fund Services. She has over 13 years of experience in the investment management industry. Prior to joining U.S. Bank in 2017, Liz served in various legal and compliance capacities, including as chief compliance officer with Heartland Advisors and its proprietary mutual fund complex, Heartland Group. |
DAVID SENRA
David Senra is the host of Founders podcast. For the past 8 years David has intensely studied the life and work of hundreds of history’s greatest entrepreneurs. Every week he reads another biography and shares lessons on his podcast. David has lectured on entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School, and Notre Dame. Founders is one of the top business podcasts in the world and hundreds of thousands of founders, investors, and executives listen every week. |
DOUGLAS B. SIEG
Douglas B. Sieg is the Managing Partner of Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lord Abbett Family of Funds. As Lord Abbett’s 10th Managing Partner, Sieg is responsible for leading the firm in delivering on our mission: Securing a sustainable future for our clients, our people, and our world. In this role, he oversees the firm’s efforts in drawing on the strength of its people, delivering relevant and superior investment strategies, cultivating meaningful relationships, and ensuring organizational stability. Sieg oversees the Executive Committee and Investment Committee, which are focused on managing and operating the firm. |
ART SILVA
Art Silva is head of digital engagement in the Marketing Group at Fidelity Institutional® (FI). Fidelity Institutional is a division of Fidelity Investments that offers investment insights, strategies, and solutions, as well as trading services to a wide range of wealth management firms and institutional investors. Fidelity Investments is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing, and other financial products and services to institutions, financial intermediaries, and individuals. In this role, Mr. Silva is responsible for achieving business results for Fidelity Institutional, Institutional Wealth Management Services, and Asset Management through world-class modern marketing strategies and differentiated digital customer experiences that generate brand awareness, engagement, demand, and retention with current and prospective clients in the wealth and investment management industry. |
MARJIN SMIT
Marijn Smit is Head of Transamerica Investment Solutions (TIS), which comprises Transamerica Asset Management, Inc. (TAM) and Transamerica’s Stable Value Solutions (SVS) business. He is also Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Transamerica Mutual Funds and a member of the Transamerica Sustainability Board. |
DEEP RATNA SRIVASTAV
Deep Srivastav is a senior vice president, head of AI & digital transformation for Franklin Templeton. |
JULIE SWEET
Julie Sweet is chair and chief executive officer of Accenture. She became CEO in September 2019 and assumed the additional position of chair in September 2021. Previously, she served as chief executive officer of Accenture's business in North America, the company's largest geographic market. Prior to that, she was Accenture's general counsel, secretary, and chief compliance officer for five years. Before joining Accenture in 2010, Julie was a partner for 10 years in the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. |
JOHN WALDRON
John Waldron is President and Chief Operating Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. He is a member of the Goldman Sachs Management Committee, Co-Chair of the Firmwide Enterprise Risk Committee, and Chair of the Firmwide Reputational Risk Committee. |
GEORGE H. WALKER
George Walker has served for 14 years as Chairman and CEO of Neuberger Berman, a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager founded in 1939. The firm manages $443 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. With offices in 26 countries, Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 Best Place to Work in Money Management (firms with more than 1,000 employees) finishing either first or second each of the last nine years. In 2021, UNPRI named the firm a Leader, a designation awarded to fewer than one percent of investment firms for excellence in ESG practices. Previously, Walker spent 14 years at Goldman Sachs where he was a member of the firm’s Partnership Committee. Walker’s current board service includes the Partnership for New York City (Vice Chair) and the Trinity School. Walker earned a BA, BS and MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. |
DOUGLAS YONES
Douglas Yones is currently the Head of Exchange Traded Products at the New York Stock Exchange, where he oversees the listings and operations teams responsible for the ETP, Closed End Funds and SPAC businesses. His department is responsible for the delivery of customized, full service end-to-end capabilities for exchange traded product issuers. From the moment an asset manager begins developing their mandate, the team at the NYSE can help to drive product and index development, regulatory guidance and legal support, an unparalleled listing day experience, and long-term enhancement of product growth and distribution alongside superior market quality and liquidity. |
JOHN ZITO
John Zito is a Partner and Deputy CIO of Credit at Apollo, overseeing the firm’s global Credit, Insurance and Real Estate Debt business and team. John is also a member of the Firm’s Leadership Team. Apollo’s platform spans the full financing universe across public and private markets, including corporate credit, direct lending, asset-backed finance and more. Prior to joining Apollo in 2012, John served as a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Brencourt Advisors and previously spent five years as a Portfolio Manager at Veritas Fund Group. John is a Chartered Financial Analyst charter holder and he graduated cum laude from Amherst College with an AB in economics. |