Our People

Basant Nanda is Global Head of Asset Management Technology for Ameriprise Financial with over 25 years of financial technology experience. He is responsible for the technology solutions for all of the asset management functions. Prior to his role with Ameriprise, he was responsible for leading the Information Technology group at CPP Investment Board in Toronto, Canada. Prior to CPPIB, he held senior technology leadership roles with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs. Significant roles include Global Head of Technology for Prime Services, Equity Finance and Clearing, Global Head of Investment Research Technology and Global Head of Prime Brokerage, Fund Administration and Risk Technology.

Basant earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and a Bachelor of Engineering degree from MNIT, India.

Jon Allen is the Head of Asia Pacific and is responsible for leading the firm’s business in Asia Pacific. He joined the firm in 2010.

Jon has extensive experience in global asset management. He previously held senior roles at Prudential Asset Management and Royal & Sun Alliance Investments, both in Asia and the United Kingdom. He also started two alternative investment companies. In total, Jon has lived and worked in Asia for more than 20 years.

Jon is a Board Member of Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited, Threadneedle Portfolio Services Hong Kong Limited and Columbia Threadneedle Investments Japan Co., Ltd.  He is also a member of Columbia Threadneedle Investments' Global Executive Group.

Jon has a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Western Australia.

Leslie Walstrom is Global Head of Marketing for Columbia Threadneedle Investments. In her role, she is responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategy to drive awareness of the Columbia Threadneedle Investments brand and our investment management capabilities with institutions, financial intermediaries and investors.

Prior to joining the company, Leslie was a Senior Vice President at Natixis Global Asset Management. At Natixis, she led the development of marketing strategy for U.S. sales channels and managed the firm’s internal agency, which supported creative and eBusiness initiatives for more than 15 countries. Before joining Natixis, she led the eBusiness and marketing functions for RiverSource Investments — a Columbia Threadneedle legacy firm. Prior to this role, Leslie held a variety of positions within American Express Financial Advisors (now Ameriprise Financial).

She has been a member of the investment community since 1989. Leslie received a B.A. in Human Resources Management and an MBA in Business Communications from the University of St. Thomas.

Ted Truscott is the Chief Executive Officer at Columbia Threadneedle Investments. Under his leadership, the firm uses a consistent and collaborative investment approach that strives to provide better outcomes for clients.

Before joining the company in September 2001, Truscott was Chief Investment Officer with Zurich Scudder Investments, Americas, and Managing Director — Zurich Scudder Investments. Truscott joined Scudder, Stevens & Clark in 1992 as a Portfolio Manager and Equity Research Analyst, focusing on Latin American countries and securities. Prior to Scudder, Truscott was with Chemical Bank from 1983 to 1992, first as a Credit Analyst and Banking Officer covering Asian banks and corporations at Chemical Bank. Later, Truscott joined Chemical's LDC Structured Finance Group, concentrating on the creation and management of Chemical's debt/equity swap portfolio in Latin America. Ted serves on several boards across the Columbia Threadneedle and Ameriprise Financial businesses. In addition, he serves on the Investment Company Institute’s Board of Governors, as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Middlebury College, as Chair of the Board of Directors of The Greater Boston Food Bank and as Chair of Boston Medical Center’s Philanthropic Trust.

Truscott earned a bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies from Middlebury College and an MBA in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Richard Watts is Chief Investment Officer EMEA & Global Head of Investment Solutions at Columbia Threadneedle Investments. He joined the company in November 2021 following the acquisition of BMO’s EMEA asset management business. Richard is responsible for overseeing Columbia Threadneedle’s investment function in the region, building on our strong established approach and capabilities.

Previously, Richard was Chief Investment Officer of BMO Global Asset Management. During his 16 years with BMO GAM and predecessor firms, he held a range of senior roles including co-Head of Investment for BMO GAM EMEA, Head of Fixed Income, Head of Investment Solutions and Head of Liability Driven Investment.

Prior to this Richard worked for eight years at Investment Bank JP Morgan where he worked in the interest rate derivatives business both in London and New York. He has worked in the financial services industry since 1997.

Richard holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Exeter.

Stewart Bennett is Global Head of Alternatives at Columbia Threadneedle Investments. He joined the company in November 2021 following the acquisition of BMO’s EMEA asset management business. In this new role, Stewart has oversight responsibility for our real assets business that includes UK, European and US (Lionstone) real estate and European infrastructure, along with the private equity business, the US-managed Seligman hedge funds, Thames River Capital (real estate securities) and Pyrford (absolute return, international and global equities).

Previously, Stewart had been Global Head of Alternatives at BMO Global Asset Management since May 2019, where he was responsible for its private equity, real estate and real estate securities businesses. Stewart joined BMO GAM with 25 years’ 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. Stewart has worked in the financial services industry since 1994.

David Logan is Head of EMEA and Global Business Operations at Columbia Threadneedle Investments. In this role, he co-ordinates and has general oversight of EMEA activities, including serving as business lead for regulatory engagement. He also sets and drives regional priorities in collaboration with Columbia Threadneedle’s Global Executive Group and regional staff function heads. He joined the company in November 2021 following the acquisition of BMO’s EMEA asset management business.

Previously, David was Global Chief Operating Officer at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, responsible for ensuring operational teams and processes consistently deliver within the context of our business, risk management and client service goals.

Prior to this, David worked as Head of Distribution for BMO Global Asset Management. He was appointed to this role in 2016, having been Chief Operating Officer of BMO GAM in EMEA since 2014. David was made Chief Financial Officer of F&C Asset Management plc in 2006 and was instrumental in the company’s acquisition by BMO Financial Group, and subsequent integration.

David spent 12 years prior in the accounting profession, including four years as a partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP and three years as a partner at Andersen. He has worked in the financial services industry since 1994. David holds a BA in Accounting and Economics and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland.

William Davies is Global Chief Investment Officer at Columbia Threadneedle Investments since January 2022. He was previously Chief Investment Officer, EMEA, a role he performed since 2019, with responsibility for the oversight of all EMEA investment strategies.

William joined Threadneedle Investments as a European Equities portfolio manager at the company’s inception in 1994. He became Head of European Equities in 1999 and Head of Global Equities in 2011. In 2016, William became Head of Equities, EMEA and in 2017 he became Global Head of Equities, assuming responsibility for the company’s equity teams across all regions. William performed this role until October 2021. Before this William worked for Eagle Star Investments. He has also worked for Hambros Bank as a European Investment Manager where he led the European equity team.

William holds a BA (Hons) in Economics from Exeter University.

Michaela Collet Jackson joined the company in 2021 as Head of Distribution for Europe, Middle East and Africa, responsible for our client business as well as driving our commercial growth across all products and client segments in EMEA. She is also jointly responsible for Marketing across the region and is a member of the Global Executive Group, reporting into our Global CEO, Ted Truscott.

Michaela has more than 20 years’ experience in the asset management industry, including 16 years at BlackRock across a variety of roles, most recently as Deputy COO for their Client Businesses. Prior to this she was Head of EMEA Retail Solutions & Partnerships. In addition, she has held a broad range of sales roles across the client spectrum including Head of Nordic Wholesale, based in Copenhagen, Senior Sales Director Nordic Institutional and Business Development Officer for iShares ETFs in UK & Switzerland. Prior to this she was Marketing Manager for E-Crossnet Ltd.

Michaela holds a MA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) from Brasenose College, Oxford University and a Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching from the Academy of Executive Coaching.