Institutional asset manager Pyramis Global Advisors has expanded its global distribution leadership team with three senior appointments.
Maureen Fitzgerald has been hired as head of North American institutional distribution, a newly created position. She will report to Michael A Jones, president and chairman of Pyramis.
Colin Fitzgerald has been hired as head of international institutional distribution, a newly created position. He will report to Jones.
Michael Barnett will assume the role of head of Canadian institutional sales and service. Barnett was previously executive vice president of institutional sales for Pyramis. He will dual report to Robert Strickland, president of Fidelity Investments Canada, and Fitzgerald.
“The rapidly changing global financial landscape has created extraordinary challenges for institutional investors, requiring asset managers to bring deep skills and capabilities to solve for their complex needs,” says Jones. “Broadening Pyramis’ distribution structure and expanding our leadership team with these talented and experienced professionals, allows us to better understand the distinct and complex needs of institutional investors, so that we can create and deliver highly customised solutions that will help them achieve their business objectives.”
As head of North American institutional distribution, Fitzgerald will be responsible for US and Canadian sales and global consultant relations. She joins Pyramis from State Street Global Advisors where she served as head of the institutional client group for North America directing the service and expansion of client, prospect and consultant relationships. Prior to this role, Fitzgerald served as head of US institutional sales and global consultant relations. She joined SSgA in 1994 and held numerous positions in sales and consultant relations. Fitzgerald will be based in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
As Pyramis’ head of international institutional distribution, Fitzgerald will focus on expanding the company’s distribution capabilities in Europe and Asia. He joins Pyramis from Robeco Group, where he served as global head of key accounts and consultants. In that role, he was responsible for Robeco’s global distribution and partnership business. He also directed Robeco’s global consultant relations programme. Before joining Robeco in 2003, Fitzgerald held a variety of global sales and business development positions. He will be based in London, England.
Barnett, who has been executive vice president of institutional sales for Pyramis since 2010, will assume the role of head of Canadian institutional sales and service. Barnett has more than 25 years’ experience in financial services, most of it in Canada. From 1999 until 2010, when he took on his most recent role, he held a number of senior leadership roles with Fidelity Investments Canada, supporting the retail and institutional markets. He will be based in Toronto, Canada.
