Putnam Names Global Asset Allocation Leaders
The team will be led by co-heads James Fetch, Robert Kea, Robert Schoen and Jason Vaillancourt. Working closely with Walter C. Donovan, chief investment officer at Putnam, the new leadership team will be responsible for overall strategy and positioning of the GAA products, which include asset and risk allocation, absolute return and retirement and college savings. GAA’s 13-person group manages approximately $10 billion in assets for a variety of clients.
Fetch continues to lead portfolio construction and risk, Kea drives top-down equity efforts, Schoen oversees equity process and risk, and Vaillancourt manages global macro efforts. As a team, they will continue to manage the Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund, Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund, Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Funds, Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund, Putnam Retirement Income Lifestyle Funds, Putnam RetirementReady Funds, Putnam’s Total Return institutional portfolio and portfolios within Putnam 529 for America.
Jeff Knight, who previously led the group, has left the firm to pursue other opportunities.
Fetch, who has been in the investment industry for nearly 20 years, joined Putnam in 1994.He has a B.S. degree from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Kea, a 25-year industry veteran, joined Putnam in 1989. He has a B.A. degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and an M.B.A. from Bentley College.
Schoen, who has nearly 25 years of investment industry experience, joined Putnam in 1997. He has a B.A. degree from Tufts University and an M.B.A. from New York University, Stern School of Business. Vaillancourt, who brings 20 years of investment industry experience, has been with Putnam since 2000. He has a B.S. from Northeastern University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.