Since 2010, except for 2020, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER has recognized those institutional fund investment office leaders who have thrived and driven great results for their funds, even as markets have been volatile and the political climate has changed.
We are pleased to announce this year’s finalists in seven categories. The finalists will be recognized and the winners announced at the 2026 CIO Industry Innovation Awards following the Influential Investors Forum on November 16 in New York City.
The finalists in each category for 2026 are listed below.
2026 Industry Innovation Awards Asset Owner Finalists
Corporate Plans
Konstantinos Grigoriadis, DXC Technology
Johara Farhadieh, Wespath
Endowments
David Morehead, Baylor University
Philip Zecher, Michigan State University
Erik Lundberg, University of Michigan
Family Office
Michael Sonnenfeldt, MUUS & Co
Alyce Su, Global Family Office
Victoria Vysotina, Wealth Growth Partners
Foundations
David Cooper, Purdue Research Foundation
Kathleen Simpson, The Russell Family Foundation
Dail St. Claire, Episcopal Church Foundation
Health Care/Hospital Plans
Mark Cagwin, SSM Health
Anne Dinneen, New York Presbyterian Hospital
Stanley Ra, Seattle Children’s Hospital
Public Defined Benefit <$50 billion
Barry Kenneth, Pension Protection Fund
Mark Steed, Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System Trust
Kent Custer, Illinois Police Officers’ Pension Investment Fund
David Veak, Employees Retirement of Texas
Public Defined Benefit >$50 billion
Shoaib Khan, New Jersey Division of Investment
Jonathan Grabel, Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association
Erick Russell and Ted Wright, Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds
Methodology
In February, we opened nominations to CIO registrants and our friends and partners in the industry. Each nominee was asked to fill out an application offering details about performance, innovative strategies, contributions to the industry and drivers of success. Categories awarded each year may differ depending on the categories in which we receive applications.
A panel of internal judges at CIO selects the award finalists. Previous award winners help the panel select the winners in each category.
No individual or firm pays—or is paid—a fee to participate in the awards program.
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Industry Innovation Awards
Nominations Open: February | Finalists Announced: July To receive invitations and reminders for the Chief Investment Officer Industry Innovation Awards, click here. |
