2021 Women in Asset Management Awards

Bonhill Group’s third annual Women in Asset Management Awards in the U.S. recognized 13 winners in categories such as Advocate of the Year, Outstanding Leader of the Year and ESG Investment Manager of the Year.

The awards, given out in September, celebrate the achievements of female portfolio managers and asset management executives at a time when there’s increased urgency for conversations on racial injustice and gender diversity.

The percentage of female fund managers has been hovering around 14% for the past 20 years, and in the U.S., women represented just 11% of all portfolio managers at the end of 2020, according to Morningstar.

ACTIVE U.S. EQUITY MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Amy Zhang
Executive vice president
and portfolio manager
Alger

Amy Zhang has a clear and strong history of promoting women and minorities through a diverse set of initiatives. Three of the funds she leads were in the fifth, 10th and 22nd percentile in 2020, along with an active ETF launch in 2021.

ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Morgan Peck
Portfolio manager, equity division
Fidelity Investments

Morgan Peck has been a source of encouragement and motivation for new, young talent and acted as a support system for them in their introduction to the industry. She has more than a decade of professional investing experience under her belt and is a mentor, a role model, an advocate for women working in finance and a friend of many in the workplace.

BOND MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Catherine Stienstra
Head of municipal investments and
senior portfolio manager
Columbia Threadneedle
Investments

Catherine Stienstra has effectively demonstrated her talents through innovative strategies to meet the demands and needs of clients. She encourages and supports women who want to pursue careers in finance and asset management, and she also participates in various charitable initiatives.

EMERGING MARKETS EQUITIES LEADER OF THE YEAR

Di Chen
Analyst
Fidelity Investments

Di Chen is a thought leader, mentor, coach and mother who has continued to work tirelessly on elevating her projects, even during the global lockdown. She has seen amazing achievements managing a huge portfolio while demonstrating drive, work-life balance and an investment philosophy to be intellectually honest.

FINANCIAL INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT LEADER OF THE YEAR

Kelly Lannan
Vice president, young investors
Fidelity Investments

Kelly Lannan has encouraged and enabled progress for women in the industry while being inclusive toward local communities. She has created a platform that helps women, young adults and underrepresented groups to learn about the fundamentals of money and financial literacy.

ESG INVESTMENT MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Amy O’Brien
Global head of responsible investing
Nuveen

Amy O’Brien has an unmatched passion for her causes and actively engages with companies to create accountability for net-zero carbon emissions. She is a fund manager, board member and mentor.

GLOBAL EQUITIES LEADER OF THE YEAR

Saira Malik
Chief investment officer, equity
Nuveen

Saira Malik shows a true passion for investing, manages billions and has combined two large investment teams. She has devoted time and effort to mentorship and gender equality initiatives.

INDEX LEADER OF THE YEAR AND NEXT GENERATION LEADER OF THE YEAR

Mona Naqvi
Global head of ESG capital
markets strategy
S&P Dow Jones Indices

Mona Naqvi is an innovator committed to ESG — from sustainability to diversity, equity and inclusion. She has published more than 20 research articles and raised over $1 million to advance climate action, along with promoting the economic benefits of female participation in the workforce.

INVESTMENT CONSULTANT OF THE YEAR

Allison Fumai
Partner
Dechert LLP

Allison Fumai has been recognized for her expertise in the ETF space. She is a thought leader and seeks to empower other women while prioritizing diversity, equity and inclusion.

MALE ALLY OF THE YEAR

Anton Pil
Global head of alternatives
J.P. Morgan

Anton Pil sponsored and led a broad set of impactful, results-based initiatives that address the lack of women and minorities in direct investment leadership positions. He has fostered an environment and culture where equality is imperative.

OUTSTANDING LEADER OF THE YEAR

Lisa Jones
CEO and president of US, and head of Americas
Amundi Asset
Management US

Lisa Jones holds a leadership position in ESG and responsible investing and has worked to ensure positive flows amid challenging market conditions for active funds, while pivoting the firm to become one of the largest ESG managers.

SYSTEMATIC LEADER OF THE YEAR

Kathryn Kaminski
Chief research strategist and portfolio manager
AlphaSimplex Group

Kathryn Kaminski is a researcher, innovator, professor, industry leader and mentor. She has demonstrated significant academic and soft skill contributions within the industry while focusing on practical applications.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Elizabeth Koehler
Managing director
BlackRock Inc.

Elizabeth Koehler is a driven leader who is working toward a diverse and equitable financial services industry. She is a mentor, a sponsor for young minority leaders, a creator of networks for women to build connections and well-being during the pandemic, and an advocate for women.