Ash Williams Named CIO of the Year at Innovation Awards Gala
Robin Diamonte receives Lifetime Achievement Award as enthusiastic crowd of 340, including 113 asset owners, applauds the prowess of vibrant leaders.
Robin Diamonte receives Lifetime Achievement Award as enthusiastic crowd of 340, including 113 asset owners, applauds the prowess of vibrant leaders.
Ash Williams, chief investment officer and executive director of the Florida State Board of Administration (SBA), received the CIO of the Year Award at CIO’s 10th annual Industry Innovation Awards on Thursday evening.
The enthusiastic crowd of 340 leapt to its feet twice for Williams, who received the honor at the awards gala at the sumptuous New York Public Library. The award was bestowed by last year’s winner, Chris Ailman, CIO of California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS).
Williams drew humorous parallels between his work and riding his beloved motorcycle. “Google the word ‘gentleman,’ and his picture shows up,” Ailman said. Williams received the CIO Lifetime Achievement Award two years ago.
Robin Diamonte, one of the nation’s most dynamic CIOs, was presented with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, as her peers and other financial services notables also gave her a standing ovation. “I’ve learned to be both demanding and empathetic at the same time,” she said.
The presentation to Diamonte, corporate vice president and chief investment officer of UTC, She was introduced by Thomas Britton “Britt” Harris IV, CIO of the University of the Texas Investment Management Company (UTIMCO), who regaled the audience with tales of her drive and big heart.
In addition, Elizabeth Jourdan, deputy CIO at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, was voted NextGen of the Year. Scott Williamson, head of the BlackRock iShares US Asset Owner business development team, gave the award to Jourdan.
The selection was made after concluding a six-member hotseat panel of finalists for the honor. The grilling at CIO’s Influential Investors Forum at the Harvard Club was moderated by Chad Myrhe, director of investment at the Heinz Family Office, and last year’s winner. The audience of more than 100 asset allocators was polled.
Other winners are as follows:
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICERS
Collaboration
Charles Van Vleet (Textron)
Corporate Defined Benefit Plan Below $20 Billion
Jonathan Glidden (Delta Air Lines)
Corporate Defined Benefit Plan Above $20 Billion
Rob Sparling (Dow Chemical)
Defined Contribution Plan
Mark Fawcett (NEST)
Endowment
Mark Baumgartner (Institute for Advanced Study)
ESG
Ben Meng (CalPERS)
Foundation
Joel Wittenberg (W.K. Kellogg Foundation)
Health Care Organization
Leslie Lenzo (Advocate Aurora Health)
Public Defined Benefit Below $20 Billion
Elizabeth Burton (Hawaii Employees Retirement System)
Public Defined Benefit Between $20-100 Billion
Jim Grossman (PA PSERS)
Public Defined Benefit Above $100 Billion
Ash Williams (Florida State Board of Investment)
Risk Management
Vincent Morin (Air Canada)
Sovereign Wealth Fund
Marcus Frampton (Alaska Permanent Fund)
ASSET MANAGEMENT/SERVICING WINNERS
Consultant of the Year
Nolan Bean (Fund Evaluation Group)
Corporate Strategies
NISA
Data Tech
Solovis
Defined Contribution
State Street Global Advisors
Emerging Markets
UBS Asset Management
ESG
Breckinridge Capital Advisors
Fixed Income
Beach Point Capital Management
Hedge Fund
Bridgewater Associates
Multi-Asset
Bridgewater
OCIO
Partners Capital
Private Credit
Owl Rock Capital Group,
Private Equity
Redbird Capital Partners
Public Equity
Ariel Investments
Real Assets
Actis Capital
Transition Management
BlackRock
Hashtags for the Thursday events: #2019CIOInnovationAwards and #2019CIOInfluentialInvestorsForum
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