A Seat at the Table

MFDF's McPhillips: Diversity, evolving fund landscape top of mind for 2021

By Hillary Jackson

It's a good thing Carolyn McPhillips had the experience she did when she took the helm at Mutual Fund Directors Forum last June because she had to hit the ground running—in place, that is, considering the pandemic-related travel restrictions that have marked her tenure so far. "Directors have been really, ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

Oakmark Funds chair wraps up long career with 'most unusual' year

By Hillary Jackson

If Allan Reich thought he was going to sail smoothly through his 27th and final year on the board of Oakmark Funds, he was mistaken. Reich will retire as independent chairman at the end of December after a full-on 2020 that was far from short on challenges and workload—including having ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

Sequoia Fund board remake: Former WaPo publisher latest to join

By Hillary Jackson

Resignations, retirements and recruitment over the past five years have led to significant changes in the Sequoia Fund boardroom. The transformation was set in motion in the wake of the storied fund's well publicized investment in Valeant Pharmaceuticals, which went bad in 2015, and Chairman Eddie Lazarus told Fund Board ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

In time of transition, Hartford Funds looks to maintain diversity, culture

By Hillary Jackson

When new members join and long-serving members leave a mutual fund board, it can be difficult to maintain a carefully honed boardroom culture. At Hartford Funds, this has been top of mind in the past few years as the board has had to embark on recruiting and succession planning ahead ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

New Northern Trust series trust directors get down to business

By Hillary Jackson

When Lloyd Wennlund was tapped to chair the board overseeing Northern Trust's new Datum One Series Trust, he knew the boardroom needed to be filled with individuals who could hit the ground running. There are complexities involved with overseeing the various funds and advisers in a series trust—and the providers ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<

It's a time of change for Manning & Napier Funds board

By Hillary Jackson

The board overseeing Manning & Napier's 31 mutual funds is in transition, a process that began a few years ago and is designed to ensure its governance practices are keeping pace with a changing market environment, according to Paul Brooke, lead independent director. Already, the board has created the LID ... >> CONTINUE READING <<<