Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) announced today, June 30, that in
July, Jonathan Hobbs, CFA, FSA, will join WFAM as head of U.S. Portfolio
Solutions and Kevin Kneafsey, Ph.D., will join WFAM as a senior
investment strategist with the Multi-Asset Client Solutions group.
They will both be based in San Francisco and will report to Nicolaas
Marais, president of WFAM and head of Multi-Asset Client Solutions.
In this role, Hobbs will design and implement investment solutions for
our clients, spanning insurance, defined benefit, defined contribution,
and other institutional investors, and will join our research effort on
next-generation portfolio and asset allocation strategies. Prior to
joining WFAM, he led the client solutions office in San Francisco and
was co-head of Liability Driven Investment (LDI) in North America with
BlackRock.
Kneafsey will be instrumental in enhancing the team’s research efforts
and thought leadership, specifically aimed at risk-based portfolio
construction and alternative risk premium strategies, and improving our
understanding of the drivers of risk and return. He previously served as
a senior advisor for the Schroders multi-asset team, and before joining
Schroders, he was the head of research for BlackRock’s multi-asset team.
“The additions of Jonathan Hobbs and Kevin Kneafsey to WFAM’s
Multi-Asset Client Solutions team significantly strengthen our ability
to bring the very best multi-asset-class solutions and risk management
expertise to our clients,” said Marais. “This is another example of how
we are actively recruiting all-star-caliber industry talent to enhance
our focus on positive investor outcomes and what our clients need.”
Prior to Hobbs’ time with BlackRock as head of the client solutions
office in San Francisco and co-head of LDI in North America, he was a
financial and actuarial advisor with Ernst & Young LLP. Hobbs earned a
bachelor’s degree in actuarial science and finance from Drake
University, graduating summa cum laude. He also has earned the right to
use the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®)
designation and qualified as a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA).
Kneafsey had been with Schroders as a senior advisor for the multi-asset
team. Before Schroders, he was head of research for BlackRock’s
multi-asset team. Previous roles include lecturer at the University of
California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business (Dynamic Asset
Management); head of research with the client solutions group at
Barclays Global Investor; and, before that, chief strategist for the
global markets strategies group. He earned a bachelor’s degree in
accounting and finance from the University of New Mexico, graduating
summa cum laude, and a doctoral degree in finance, with a minor in
econometrics, from the University of Arizona.
About Wells Fargo Asset Management
Wells Fargo Asset Management, a division of Wells Fargo Wealth and
Investment Management, strives to help clients achieve their financial
goals through top-tier investment options managed by specialized
investment teams that are supported by independent risk management and
backed by superior, collaborative service. With more than $481 billion
in assets under management,* Wells Fargo Asset Management has 29
autonomous investment teams with specialized expertise and proven
processes, more than 500 investment professionals, and a global reach
with offices and clients around the world.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based
financial services company with $2.0 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s
vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them
succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco,
Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and
consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,500 locations;
13,000 ATMs; and the internet (wellsfargo.com)
and mobile banking and has offices in 42 countries and territories to
support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With
approximately 273,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three
households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25
on Fortune’s 2017 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News,
insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells
Fargo Stories.
*As of June 21, 2017
Wells Fargo Asset Management (WFAM) is a trade name used by the asset
management businesses of Wells Fargo & Company. Wells Fargo Funds
Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company,
provides investment advisory and administrative services for Wells Fargo
Funds. Other affiliates of Wells Fargo & Company provide subadvisory and
other services for the funds. The funds are distributed by Wells
Fargo Funds Distributor, LLC, Member FINRA, an affiliate of Wells
Fargo & Company. Neither Wells Fargo Funds Management nor Wells Fargo
Funds Distributor has fund customer accounts/assets, and neither
provides investment advice/recommendations or acts as an investment
advice fiduciary to any investor. 304329 06-17
NOT FDIC INSURED - NO BANK GUARANTEE - MAY LOSE VALUE
