Mutual Funds

Russell Investments names Michelle Seitz CEO

During her tenure at William Blair, the firm saw its assets grow to $65 billion from $2.3 billion.

Russell Investments Tuesday named Michelle Seitz CEO.

She was also named to the board and will become chairwoman Jan. 1.

Ms. Seitz replaces current CEO Len Brennan, who will become a strategic adviser to the firm.

Ms. Seitz joins Russell Investments following 16 years leading William Blair Investment Management (WBIM) and serving on the seven-person executive committee of William Blair, which has more than 1,400 employees and offices in 10 cities across four continents.

“During her leadership tenure, Seitz drove the transformation and five-fold growth of William Blair Investment Managment from a regional high net worth franchise to the global asset management business that it is today,” the company said in a statement. During her tenure, William Blair saw its assets grow to $65 billion from $2.3 billion. The company also was a four-time recipient of the ‘Best Places to Work in Money Management’ award by Pensions & Investments.

Ms. Seitz was named one of the ‘Top Women in Asset Management’ in 2016 by Money Management Executive and was recently awarded the Kelley School Alumni Association Academy Fellows Award, which honors the most accomplished leaders from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. An active industry participant, she is a long-standing board member of the U.S. Institute, an association of asset management CEOs, and actively involved in The European Institute.

“We are excited to welcome Michelle as Russell Investments’ new CEO, and believe that her forward-looking leadership will help propel the firm into a new phase of evolution and growth that will benefit clients and associates alike,” said Todd R. Crockett, managing director, TA Associates, which, along with Reverence Capital Partners, acquired Russell Investments in 2016.

The Seattle-based company, established in 1936, has $277.2 billion in assets under management and 1,700 associates worldwide. The company has more than 40 mutual funds; more than 50 ETFs use stock and bond indices created by Russell.