Northern Trust Asset Management has made two leadership appointments to strengthen its focus on strategic priorities and increase alignment of investment sales and servicing activities around key growth channels.
Shundrawn A Thomas (pictured), who has led the launch of the FlexShares exchange-traded fund (ETF) business over the past three years, will expand his responsibilities to oversee all fund activities, including Northern Funds, Northern Institutional Funds and financial intermediary distribution.
Jason J Tyler, currently Northern Trust’s head of corporate strategy and market development, will join the asset management business as head of client solutions, with oversight of institutional sales, client relationship management and advisory services, including the Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) practice.
“We are pleased to announce these organisational changes, which align our Asset Management activities with strong growth potential under dynamic and strategic leadership,” says Stephen N Potter, president of Northern Trust Asset Management. “Shundrawn Thomas has taken an entrepreneurial approach to develop one of the fastest-growing ETF families in the world, while Jason Tyler has broad experience in asset management and financial services. With their shared background as strategy leaders at Northern Trust, Shundrawn and Jason bring substantial experience and expertise to these positions.”
Thomas, executive vice president and managing director of FlexShares, will focus on distribution of ETFs and mutual funds through financial advisors and other intermediary channels. He has 20 years of industry experience and has led FlexShares since 2011, when the ETF business was formed and launched its first funds. Previously, Thomas held senior level positions at Northern Trust including president and chief executive of Northern Trust Securities and head of corporate strategy. Prior to joining Northern Trust, he worked at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley in sales, trading and research positions.
Tyler has been senior vice president and head of corporate strategy since joining Northern Trust in 2011. In this capacity, he coordinates strategic planning and merger and acquisition activity for the company. With 21 years of financial services experience, Tyler came to Northern Trust from Ariel Investments, where he served as director of research operations for the mutual fund firm.
