The Fund Leader of the Year is awarded to an individual who has made a key impact on their firm or the industry as a whole, through either an innovative concept, directive or product that changes the industry or helps their firm grow.
Gregory Johnson, ceo, Franklin Templeton Investments
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Gregory Johnson
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Under Johnson’s leadership, Franklin Templeton last year made key overseas acquisitions, expanded its tactical asset allocation group, drove attention to its risk- management process and rolled out a new advertising campaign highlighting its global capabilities.
On the acquisitions front, the firm completed its purchase of Dubai-based Algebra Capital, acquired U.K.-based equity manager Rensburg Fund Management and bought Balanced Equity Management, an institutional manager in Australia. In conjunction with the purchases, it rolled out a new advertising campaign with the tagline: “Global—The New Core,” emphasizing the importance of looking for investment opportunities outside one’s home country.
Franklin Templeton expanded its investment management team by five to a total of 22 within its global tactical allocation group. The expansion is part of a focus on solution-oriented investing, which prompted it to launch global allocation funds for U.S. and overseas investors.
The firm made communicating its risk-management capabilities a priority last year and adopted a set of tools, materials and communications for financial advisors, institutional investors and shareholders.
Franklin Templeton had net inflows of $8.8 billion in 2011, representing an organic growth rate of 2.6% and bringing its total AUM to $343.1 billion, according to Strategic Insight.
John Amboian, ceo, Nuveen Investments
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John Amboian
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Amboian spent last year integrating First American Fund Advisors’ $25 billion of long-term mutual fund assets into the Nuveen complex. The acquisition from U.S. Bancorp, which closed in January 2011, catapulted Nuveen from the ranks of municipal bond-centric manager to a full-service shop. As part of the acquisition, the firm added 41 funds in real assets, equities, fixed-income and asset allocation.
Amboian oversaw the merging of the two firms’ investment management teams and launched a consolidation of its funds lineup to eliminate overlap, primarily in the municipal bond category. The firm announced 16 planned funds mergers last year and completed five. As part of the transition, key professionals from FAF were retained. For example, Tom Schreier, formerly ceo of FAF, became vice chairman of wealth management at Nuveen. In another key appointment, Bill Huffman, formerly co-head and coo of Nuveen, became president of the combined business.
Nuveen had $1.4 billion of net inflows in 2011, representing a 1.5% organic growth rate and bringing its total AUM to $90 billion, according to Strategic Insight.
George Gatch, ceo, JPMorgan Funds
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George Gatch
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Gatch invested considerable resources in product innovation, distribution and marketing in 2011, helping propel the firm to seventh place in long-term active U.S. mutual fund assets under management from 13th place the previous year. The ranking marks the first time that a commercial bank-owned mutual fund firm has made it into the top 10, according to Strategic Insight. JPMorgan had $17 billion of net inflows in 2011, representing a 14% organic growth rate and bringing its total AUM to $137 billion.
JPMorgan launched or seeded 14 domestic and five international/global mutual funds last year, concentrating on unique investment strategies. These included The Diversified Real Return Fund, the Tax Aware Income Opportunities Fund, the Global Equity Income Fund and the Global Unconstrained Equity Fund.
Under Gatch’s leadership, the firm expanded its distribution team by 8% to 230 wholesalers. As a result, its gross sales rose by 7% to $53 billion.
The firm concentrated its marketing efforts on face-to-face interaction, launching an aggressive client outreach program. Some 4,942 financial intermediaries attended JPMorgan roadshows and 1,765 attended JPMorgan investment forums in 2011. The firm leveraged Chief Marketing Strategist David Kelly’s following by expanding its well-known Market Insights program. Kelly delivered 431 speeches in 2011, reaching 26,677 advisors and 3,492 individual investors.
William Glavin, ceo, OppenheimerFunds
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William Glavin
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Under Glavin’s watch, OppenheimerFunds introduced a comprehensive training program for its wholesalers, ramped up its digital marketing effort and launched an aggressive advertising campaign in 2011. The firm improved awareness of its global equity products and engagement in its website as well, reported Strategic Insight.
The firm’s CEO Solutions program trains its sales force to use both analytical and creative thinking with the idea to elevate the wholesaler from the role of sales representative to that of a consultant, partner and coach to the financial advisor. The impetus is to appeal to a broader range of advisors.
The firm’s “Globalize Your Thinking” campaign emphasized its roots and strength as a provider of global investment strategies. The digital-heavy campaign was the first in the industry to use QR codes (barcodes read by smartphones).
OppenheimerFunds made digital marketing a priority last year, emphasizing the frequent posting of thought leadership materials on its website and the microsite dedicated to the Globalize Your Thinking campaign. The firm sent out as many as 10 email blasts a week to advisors sharing the viewpoints of its portfolio managers.
OppenheimerFunds was a top-of-mind provider for global/international equity products for 54% of financial advisors who saw their ads. In the first 10 months of the year, advertising alone drove more than 391,000 page views on its site. There were some 64,000 video downloads through October.
The firm has $135.7 billion of assets under management.