Corporate MovesAugust 18, 2023

Ariel Investments Promotes Henry Mallari-D’Auria to CIO of Global, Emerging Markets

He will succeed Rupal Bhansali, who is leaving to start her own firm.

Reported by Michael Katz

Chicago-based investment firm Ariel Investments has promoted Henry Mallari-D’Auria to CIO of global and emerging markets. Mallari-D’Auria, currently CIO of emerging markets value, will replace Rupal Bhansali, who is leaving the company to start her own firm.

The firm’s international and global team and emerging markets team will report to Mallari-D’Auria. Bhansali’s last day in her current role will be August 31, and she will stay on as a consultant through February 2024.

“We are grateful for all Rupal has contributed to the management of our International and Global strategies and wish her well as she pursues entrepreneurship,” stated a company memo to clients.

Mallari-D’Auria is currently responsible for Ariel’s emerging markets research and portfolio management activities. Prior to joining Ariel, he was with AllianceBernstein for 31 years, more than 20 as CIO of emerging markets value equities and portfolio manager of the company’s Next 50 Emerging Markets Fund.

While at AllianceBernstein, he was also co-CIO of international value equities for nearly nine years and held various leadership positions, including head of the global value research department, director of research of small-cap value equities and director of research of emerging markets value equities. Mallari-D’Auria first joined AllianceBernstein in 1991 as a research analyst focused on consumer and natural gas companies, which expanded to coverage in the financial services industry.

“Given his multifaceted knowledge and significant experience, Henry is exceptionally well qualified to lead the day-to-day management of our International and Global portfolios as well as its dedicated research department,” the Ariel Investments statement emphasized.

Mallari-D’Auria will be the lead portfolio manager for international and global emerging markets strategies and will be supported by Micky Jagirdar, who will be the lead portfolio manager of the firm’s long/short strategy when it goes live.

“We are certain Henry will continue to manage the International and Global portfolios in the long-standing tradition of our actively patient approach to investing,” the company release stated. “While we know any change at the portfolio manager level can feel disruptive, we have great confidence in Henry’s ability to run the strategies while leading the talented I/G and EM research groups.”