Russell strengthens consulting team with specialist hire
Industry-recognized expert Cynthia Steer joins Russell Investments
Seattle, WA — December 2, 2010 — Russell Investments has hired Cynthia Steer as managing director, investment strategy. Steer joins Russell's expanding global consulting practice, which currently has more than $2 trillion in assets under advisement (AUA), and a team of more than 70 consultants located in Russell offices around the globe. In this new position, she will be responsible for advising North American consulting relationships, driving consulting thought leadership on global investing topics and providing market insights on complex investment issues.
"Cynthia brings to the table a distinguished career as a plan sponsor, endowment trustee and investment consultant to pension and non-profit organizations. Her global perspective, knowledge of market risk and ability to match investment solutions with client needs will be tremendously valuable as we work alongside our growing client base to navigate the rapidly changing investment landscape," said Janine Baldridge, global head of consulting and advisory services. "Her globally recognized research in emerging markets and fixed income will be beneficial to clients who are facing the challenge of reducing portfolio risk as well as those seeking investment opportunities necessary for future growth."
Steer has extensive experience researching and advising investors on asset allocation deployment across the capital markets spectrum, with notable emphasis in fixed income, currency, emerging and frontier markets. Her other areas of expertise have helped investors develop effective solutions associated with liquidity, risk and governance activities. She is also a frequent speaker at U.S. and global investment conferences.
Most recently, Steer served as chief research strategist and managing director, beta research at Rogerscasey. Prior, Steer was chief investment officer at SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company, Inc. in New York and the outsourced chief investment officer and independent consultant for the City of Hartford, Conn. She has also served as chief investment officer and vice president of investments at Phillip Morris Companies, Inc. and chief investment officer, director of investments and chairman, U.K. Pensions Trust at United Technologies Corporation.
"Consulting is at the foundation of the global business that Russell Investments has built over the last 40 years," said Penny Zuckerwise, CEO, Americas Institutional. "And now, with the increase in demand for guidance in an ever-changing and more challenging world, we continue to expand our consulting core. We are delighted to be able to add someone who is as experienced, capable and well-regarded in the industry as Cynthia."
Steer was recently named the 2010 Distinguished Woman Investment Professional of the Year by the Chicago-based Women Investment Professionals (WIP) organization.
About Russell
Founded in 1936, Russell Investments is a global financial services firm that serves institutional investors, financial advisors and individuals in more than 40 countries.
Through a unique combination of interlinked businesses, Russell delivers financial products, services and advice. A pioneer, Russell began its strategic pension fund consulting business in 1969 and today is trusted by many well-known worldwide institutions for investment advice. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA and with offices in major financial centers worldwide, Russell has $149 billion in assets under management (as of 9/30/2010) in its mutual funds, retirement products, and institutional funds, and is well recognized for its depth of research and quality of manager selection.
Russell offers a comprehensive range of implementation services that helps institutional clients maximize their assets. The Russell Indexes calculate over 50,000 benchmarks daily covering 65 countries and more than 10,000 securities.
Contacts:
Kate Stouffer , 206-505-1858
Matt Burkhard, 718-875-2122
Russell Investment Group, a Washington, USA corporation, operates through subsidiaries worldwide including Russell Investments. Russell Investment Group is a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company.
First Used:December 2010
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