03.01.2024

Vanguard CEO Tim Buckley to Retire

03.01.2024
Vanguard CEO Tim Buckley to Retire
  • Chief Executive Officer Tim Buckley to retire by year-end after a distinguished 33-year career, including more than six years as CEO
  •  Board is currently conducting comprehensive CEO selection process
  • Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis appointed President in expanded role  

Vanguard announced that Tim Buckley will retire from his role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer by year-end 2024 after a dynamic and highly successful tenure as CEO and more than three decades of distinguished Vanguard service. Vanguard’s Board of Directors has initiated a comprehensive process to select a new CEO, evaluating both internal and external candidates. Vanguard also announced today that Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis has been appointed to the additional role of President of the firm, effective immediately.

On his decision to retire as CEO, Mr. Buckley said, “Thirty-three years ago, I was lucky to join a company that believed in giving investors a fair shake as they saved for retirement, for their kids’ college education, or for their dream home. In my seventh year as CEO, we have scaled our mission to more than 50 million investors, and our team is just getting started. I have been passionate about developing the next generation of leaders, and I look forward to those leaders elevating Vanguard to new heights. It has been an absolute privilege to lead Vanguard and help advance the company’s mission of giving clients the best chance for investment success. Today, Vanguard is poised to seize the opportunities of the future while continuing to deliver for our investor-owners.”

During his tenure at Vanguard, Mr. Buckley has served with great distinction, driving significant innovation and accomplishment across a range of senior roles. He joined Vanguard in 1991 as founder John Bogle’s research assistant, where he learned first-hand the founding principles of the company. Mr. Buckley became a member of Vanguard’s senior leadership team in 2001 as head of Vanguard’s Information Technology Division. He subsequently led the Personal Investor division through a period of significant growth and then served as Chief Investment Officer before being named CEO in 2018. He was appointed Chairman in 2019.

Under Mr. Buckley’s leadership, Vanguard has experienced remarkable momentum across its lines of business and a track record of top-performing investments1, all in service to its investor-owners. Highlights of his tenure include expanding the client base by tens of millions to more than 50 million investors globally, growing assets under management by more than 80% to $9 trillion, dramatically expanding Vanguard’s award-winning2 advice business with differentiated digital and hybrid solutions, digitizing and modernizing business operations and the client experience, and improving client service and satisfaction3. During his tenure, Vanguard thrived not only in the U.S. but internationally across the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Canada, and Latin America, bringing high-quality, low-cost investment products to individual investors in markets across the globe. Mr. Buckley also successfully led the firm through the global COVID pandemic, maintaining consistent business, operational, and client momentum through one of the most disruptive economic and social periods of recent history.

Mark Loughridge, Lead Independent Director, said, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Tim for his unwavering commitment and outstanding, dedicated service to Vanguard and its investor-owners and crew for more than 33 years. Under his leadership, Vanguard went through a period of unprecedented innovation, growth, and transformation, building high-value-added services and businesses and expanding our advice offers. These achievements, plus his focus on developing future leaders and ensuring Vanguard always delivers value and great service to clients, position Vanguard for continued success in the years to come. We are extremely grateful for Tim’s many contributions and look forward to continuing to work with him throughout the upcoming CEO selection and transition process.”

Investment veteran and Chief Investment Officer Greg Davis to expand role, becoming President

In his expanded role as both President and CIO, Mr. Davis will be responsible for all aspects of the firm’s investment management, retirement business, and services for financial advisor clients, overseeing the majority of Vanguard’s fund and ETF distribution. Within his expanded remit, he will also further advocate for policies for the betterment of the capital markets and help ensure more investors have the access and ability to save for a secure future.

Mr. Davis, a 24-year Vanguard veteran, was first appointed CIO and global head of Vanguard Investment Management Group in 2017. He currently oversees $8 trillion in global assets managed by Vanguard’s fixed income, equity index, and quantitative equity groups. An accomplished industry leader, Mr. Davis is a member of both the Treasury Borrowing Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York Investor Advisory Committee on Financial Markets. Prior to being named CIO, Mr. Davis was principal and global head of Vanguard Fixed Income Group. He also previously served as the company’s Asia-Pacific chief investment officer. Mr. Davis is the Vice Chair of the board of trustees for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He earned a B.S. in insurance from The Pennsylvania State University and an M.B.A. in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Commenting on Mr. Davis’s appointment, Mr. Buckley said, “Having worked closely with Greg for more than a decade, I am confident he will effectively leverage his deep investment expertise and partner with our senior team to help accelerate our business and uphold Vanguard’s passionate focus on our investors. Greg has an outstanding record of delivering for our clients—through fund performance, by championing innovation across our product line-up, and via industry-leading thought leadership. He is a well-respected leader in our industry who is frequently sought out by policy makers and who advocates for regulatory changes to benefit everyday investors.”

Mr. Davis commented, “Understanding client needs has always been critical to Vanguard’s success. I am excited to serve Vanguard in this expanded role, working to ensure that our investment teams are even more proximate to the client voice and that we enhance our efforts within the industry and with policymakers to advance investor interests.”

Source: Vanguard


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