CPP Promotes New Chief Risk Officer | Chief Investment Officer

The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board has promoted Global Head of Capital Markets and Factor Investing Priti Singh to chief risk officer, effective immediately. Singh succeeds Kristen Walters, who is leaving after having held the post for less than two years.

Singh will be responsible for the C$632.3 billion ($462.66 billion) pension giant’s global risk management functions in all investment and operations, including integrating risk perspectives.

“Priti’s leadership, knowledge of the fund and experience in investment risk management have been valuable to the CPP Investments’ senior management team—all attributes that position her well to step into the CRO role,” said CPPIB President and CEO John Graham in a statement.

According to CPPIB, Walters decided to leave to be closer to home.

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“Walters has made a significant contribution in establishing the CRO role as a standalone function and setting the enterprise risk strategy,” the pension fund stated.

Walters was named CPP Investments’ CRO in January 2023, joining from asset manager Natixis Investment Managers, where she oversaw investment and enterprise risk management for approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management.

The CPPIB also promoted Heather Tobin, formerly its head of investment portfolio management in the office of the CIO, to become Singh’s successor as head of capital markets and factor investing, effective immediately. As head of investment portfolio management, Tobin was responsible for active portfolio design and recommendations on investment signals.

“Heather’s deep experience across multiple departments in the organization makes her ideally suited to take on expanded leadership roles,” said Graham. “This promotion demonstrates the bench strength we continue to cultivate throughout the organization.”

Tobin, who will join CPPIB’s executive team, will lead the external portfolio management, systematic strategies, investment engineering and analytics, and strategy risk and operations groups.