From the Editor...
Today marks the first day of our end-of-year publishing break, which will run through Jan. 3. We're looking forward to relaxing and recharging during what truly is a most wonderful time of the year. Both Dan and I are wishing all the best to you and yours during these upcoming holiday weeks, and we're looking forward to working with you in 2025. Before we sign off for the year, however, we'd like to highlight what we've been up to the last couple weeks:
As is typical this time of year, there is a fair amount of movement into and out of mutual fund boardrooms. We recently provided insight into changes on the board overseeing Valued Advisers Trust. Our exclusive one-on-one with independent Chair Andi Mullins provided readers with an inside look at what's been happening in the VAT boardroom and what the members of that board have on tap for 2025 (a side-by-side brief). We also brought news on changes in the boardrooms of Lord Abbett Funds and Vanguard Funds (a follow up to our story from June, when the board named its first-ever independent chair).
Another board experiencing personnel changes at the turn of the year—we wrote about this back in August after interviewing independent Chair Hassell McClellan—is the one overseeing John Hancock Funds. Two new independents joined in the summer ahead of the year-end retirements of veteran directors William Cunningham and Steve Pruchansky, both of whom have served for more than three decades.
Our latest 10 Things list covers topics independent directors can discuss and ask about in reference to business development companies. It's a useful collection of conversation-starters for those overseeing BDCs and those just interested in knowing more about the investment vehicles. We're always looking for issues to cover in a 10 Things list (and folks to contribute), so please reach out if you've got ideas. As always, we love to hear from readers!
And finally, don't miss our latest Viewpoints from MFDF's Dianne Descoteaux and Sara Vargo. They've examined how the SEC might function—and what presumptive Chair Paul Atkins might prioritize—once the new administration is in place. It's a very detailed and useful checklist of items pertinent to the fund industry as a whole and fund directors specifically.
Enjoy the last two weeks of 2024, and Happy New Year! We'll catch you on the flip side.
For now,
Hillary Jackson, founding editor