Halé Behzadi last night took home the top prize of Women of the Year at the annual US Women in Asset Management Awards 2022 (Women in Asset Management Awards USA).
Behzadi, the North America Head of Private Banking at Citi, bagged the coveted honour for her inspirational work to bring about a more equitable landscape for women in the investment industry.
Strategic consultants Mercer also walked away with an impressive accolade; the firm won the DEI Initiative and Network of the Year award for demonstrating that a diversity, equity and inclusion model can be scaled and make a meaningful impact on the demographic of portfolio management.
The judges had this to say about Behzadi: “Our 2022 Woman of the Year clearly demonstrated why she is a super successful leader within the industry. She has risen to the very top and is leveraging her position to
“She has over three decades of Wealth Management experience and has championed Diversity and Female Advancement by working tirelessly to hire, mentor and promote women.
“She has helped many women foster new networks and build communities to equally support and drive diversity in the industry.
“She has and still participates in many extracurricular activities, from serving on the boards of foundations to various committees and institutes. She has helped the firm and the industry make meaningful strides on DEI issues, and there are no signs of her slowing down!”
Of Mercer’s achievements, the judges commented: “This initiative has shown forward thinking and vision.
“It is a robust programme initiative that goes beyond simply expanding hiring practices; it donates to non-profits. Additionally, the programme has demonstrated significant efforts to promote diversity among portfolio managers and investment committees of the firms they work with. They are doing great work!
This year’s awards, which followed the summit event earlier in the day, were sponsored by Fidelity Investments and supported by PIMCO, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and Wasatch Global Investors.
The judging panel included esteemed female leaders such as Marie Dzanis, CEO of Northern Trust Global Investments and Lisa Jones, Head of the Americas, President and CEO of Amundi Asset Management US.
The ceremony, which celebrated its fourth annual outing, also highlighted the work of other professionals and organisations from across the United States striving for more ethical and responsible investment decisions and promoting a more inclusive sector.
The Women in Asset Management USA 2022 winners were:
Advocate of the Year – Jamie Kramer, JP Morgan
Ally of the Year – Doug Sieg, Lord Abbett & Co. LLC
Bond Manager – Anupam Damani, Nuveen
Chief Investment Officer – Anne Walsh, Guggenheim Investments
DEI Initiative and Network of the Year – The Leap Continuum, Amy Ridge, Mercer
Employer of the Year – Alumni Ventures
ESG Investment Manager – Janet Glazer, Fidelity Investments
Global Equities Leader – Melda Mergen, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Rupal Bhansali, Ariel Investments
Next Generation Leader – Lillian Qian Lin, PIMCO
Woman of the Year – Halé Behzadi, Citi
