Our story
Investing to make a positive difference
Responsible about investment
At BMO we invest with a purpose – to boldly grow the good. Our focus is simple: to help our clients meet their investment goals, while also building a more sustainable and secure future for us all.
It’s an ethos we’re proud of and one that’s engrained in our heritage as a pioneer in responsible investing. Our first responsible fund launched over 35 years ago and our teams have been actively engaging with companies to drive improvements in relation to their environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices for over two decades.
We understand that each of our clients has individual circumstances, together with specific needs and requirements. Our job is to consider these and deliver their desired outcomes. Doing this well, in a fast moving and interconnected world, requires both a global perspective and an appreciation of local circumstances.
These are strengths you can find at BMO Global Asset Management.
Learn more about our investment proposition
A diverse global investment business focused on making a positive impact
Principles that make a difference
We’re firm believers that our principles and the way we do business will generate genuine value for our clients and afford benefits to ourselves, wider society and the environment.
Three tenets that guide us:
Client-first innovation
Everything we do begins with our clients’ needs in mind – it’s been our starting point since the beginning of our business and industry. Our teams are united by this clear focus that in-turn drives the ambition to constantly re-evaluate our approach and product offerings. It’s an ethos that means when we see new challenges and opportunities, we’re positioned to develop genuinely innovative solutions.
Collaborative culture
We recognise that we can only deliver by working together. Our investment platform is characterised by a fertile culture of research and collaboration – a mindset we’ve fostered to encourage sharing of knowledge and the development of ideas. This openness enriches our thinking and means we can combine areas of insight and expertise as part of bigger global teams, to create genuine value-add for clients.
Responsible investment
Being responsible about investment lies at the core of everything we do – it’s a central pillar of the processes we adopt and the products we offer. As pioneers, we’ve led improvement in standards and driven positive change since the 1980s. We are active owners who engage directly and vote thoughtfully. All our active investment teams integrate ESG considerations into their decision making and we continue to develop dedicated and award-winning responsible funds and solutions.
Our history
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Global presence
With offices in over 20 locations, and a diverse mix of 1,200 people managing assets for clients ranging from global institutions to investment advisers and retail investors, our business is positioned to see the bigger picture whilst never losing focus of individual needs.
A strong parent company - BMO Financial Group
More than 12 million customers count on us for personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment services.
Everything we do is focused on building, investing and transforming how we work to drive progress alongside profit and create value that extends far beyond the bottom line.
Employees globally
in total assets
Dividend record – the longest in Canada
Recognised as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute – for the 4th year running*
2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality index for the 5th year running**
America’s Best Employers for Women 2020 – recognised by Forbes magazine***
Meet our senior team
We believe our competitive advantage arises from our ability to consistently deliver innovative solutions. Our executive leadership oversees specialised teams singularly focused on providing those solutions.
Kristi Mitchem
Kristi Mitchem is chief executive officer and head of BMO Global Asset Management (BMO GAM), BMO’s asset management division, where she leads a team of investment professionals dedicated to delivering superior performance across a range of asset classes including multi-asset, alternative and more traditional exposure to listed fixed income and equities. BMO GAM has over $300 billion in AUM and is recognised as a world leader in ESG investing and corporate engagement.
Prior to joining BMO in 2019, Ms. Mitchem served as the CEO of Wells Fargo Asset Management where she led 28 autonomous investment teams. She has more than 20 years of experience in roles related to asset management, defined contribution pension plans and equities markets at State Street Corporation, BlackRock, and Goldman Sachs.
Ms. Mitchem is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. At State Street she was a driving force in bringing to market a gender diversity index exchange-traded fund (ticker: SHE) designed to invest in U.S. companies committed to advancing the roles women play in their management and on their boards.
Ms. Mitchem was named one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business by the San Francisco Business Times in 2018, as one of the Top Women in Asset Management by Money Management Executive in 2017, and as one of Treasury & Risk’s Top 100 Influential People in 2008. She is also listed in several patent filings focused around guaranteed income requirements.
Ms. Mitchem earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Davidson College, where she graduated summa cum laude and was awarded First Honors. She earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where she was an Arjay Miller Scholar. She is also a Fulbright Scholar.
Gillian Noble
Gillian Noble is the Chief Operating Officer for BMO Insurance and BMO Global Asset Management. In this role she is accountable for driving the strategy and driving operational efficiencies for both businesses. Gillian joined BMO in December of 2004 and since then has held numerous progressive roles in Corporate Finance, Corporate Strategy and Wealth Management Headquarters, including Head of Transformation for the North American Customer Contact Centre. She was appointed COO BMO Insurance in September 2018 and having supported GAM on an interim basis since 2019, and her role was formally expanded in July 2020.
Prior to joining BMO, Gillian worked at PriceWaterhouse Coopers as a Management Consultant and was part of a small team that launched a new natural gas retailer in South Western Ontario during the deregulation of the natural gas industry.
Gillian holds a BBA (Honours) from Wilfrid Laurier University, received her MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and holds a professional accounting designation (CPA-CMA).
Gillian is also the Executive Sponsor of BMO’s Employee Resource Group, BMO Alliance for Women.
David Logan
, Head of Distribution
David is Head of Distribution for BMO Global Asset Management, responsible for developing and executing an integrated global distribution strategy across the business. He was appointed to this role in June 2016, having previously been Chief Operating Officer of BMO Global Asset Management (EMEA) since 2014.
Prior to this, David was Chief Financial Officer of F&C Asset Management plc, and instrumental in the company’s acquisition by BMO Financial Group, and subsequent integration into BMO Global Asset Management (EMEA). Before becoming CFO of F&C in July 2006, David spent 17 years in the accounting profession, including four years as a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP and three years as a partner at Andersen.
He holds a BA in Accounting and Economics and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland.
Richard Watts
Richard is the Chief Investment Officer of BMO Global Asset Management, and the CIO for Europe the Middle East and Africa. Richard is a board member of three group companies including the F&C Netherlands BV.
Previous roles in Richards career with the Group and predecessor companies include: co-Head of Investment for BMO GAM EMEA, Head of Fixed Income, Head of Investment Solutions, and Head of Liability Driven Investment.
Richard joined the company in 2005 after eight years at the Investment Bank JP Morgan where he worked in the interest rate derivative business both in London and New York.
Richard holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Exeter.
Stewart Bennett
, Global Head of Alternatives
Stewart Bennett joined the business in May 2019 as Global Head of Alternatives. Stewart oversees BMO Global Asset Management’s newly formed Global Alternatives offering, incorporating its existing private equity, real estate and real estate securities businesses, which will provide investors with a broader range of innovative real asset investment solutions.
Stewart is responsible for developing and executing BMO Global Asset Management’s alternative investments global growth strategy, building on the track record of delivering superior risk-adjusted returns by effectively leveraging synergies across the three businesses and significantly expanding its reach globally.
Stewart joined BMO Global Asset Management with 25 years of experience in investment banking and private equity, including 10 years as a partner and Head of the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) at Ondra Partners, the London based independent investment banking firm. His previous experience includes Dresdner Kleinwort, where he was Managing Director and Head of FIG, Strategic Advisory, and the private equity firm Botts & Company.
Angela Ghouse
Angela is Director and HR Business Partner for BMO Global Asset Management and a member of the Executive Committee. Angela is accountable for the Human Resources function.
Angela joined the company in 2018 and has 17 years’ experience in Human Resources. Prior to joining BMO Global Asset Management Angela undertook various HR leadership roles with ED&F Man, a global agricultural commodities merchant and financial brokerage business. Prior to ED&F Man Angela spent five years at Schroder Investment Management where she was responsible for leading the HR function for the Investment division. Prior to her move to Financial Services Angela spent the early part of her career in HR roles within the retail industry at Selfridges and the Arcadia Group and within media at the Associated Press.
Angela holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
*For the forth year in a row, BMO has been recognized as one of the 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. Ethisphere focuses on five key areas of evaluation in its selection process: governance, a culture of ethics, leadership and reputation, ethics and compliance programs, and corporate citizenship and responsibility.
**BMO Financial Group has been included in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI) for the fifth year in a row. The global index recognizes companies committed to gender equality and inclusivity within the workplace and the community, and publicly demonstrates each company’s commitment to equality and advancing women. This year, the index has expanded to include nearly 6,000 companies across 84 countries.
***BMO Harris Bank has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s Best Employers for Women in 2020. The list was compiled by surveying 60,000 U.S. employees – including more than 40,000 women – working for companies employing at least 1,000 people.
BMO Global Asset Management is a brand name that comprises BMO Asset Management Inc., BMO Investments Inc., BMO Asset Management Corp., BMO Asset Management Limited and BMO’s specialised investment management firms.
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This content is for information purposes. The information contained herein is not, and should not be construed as, investment, tax or legal advice to any party. Investments should be evaluated relative to the individual’s investment objectives and professional advice should be obtained with respect to any circumstance.