GW&K Investment Management Announces Changes to Executive Leadership
BOSTON, MA – June 28, 2022 – GW&K Investment Management (GW&K), an entrepreneurial-driven investment management firm offering active equity and fixed-income investment solutions to meet the needs of a diverse client base, today announced that Harold G. Kotler is stepping aside as Chief Executive Officer. He has been named Chairman of the firm and will continue to serve on the Executive Committee. Effective July 1, Thomas Powers and Bill Roberts will become Co-CEOs.
Kotler, a founder of the firm, was the architect and chief strategist of the firm’s innovative flagship municipal bond investment strategy, for which the firm is well-known and highly regarded. In 2006, he became Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, the firm has grown to over $50 billion of assets under management (as of March 31, 2022) and offers a broad spectrum of investment strategies across multiple asset classes.
“As I reflect on my tenure as Chief Executive Officer,” said Kotler, “I am deeply proud of all we’ve accomplished together, including building trusted client relationships, giving back to our community and growing our business. In the meantime, I can’t think of two people more qualified or better suited to lead GW&K into the future than Tom Powers and Bill Roberts. Both have done an admirable job as Co-Presidents of positioning the firm for continued growth.”
Kotler said the shift will give him more time to focus on the things he loves most: managing client relationships, chairing the Investment Committee and engaging in economic debate, helping to set the tone and culture of the firm, and mentoring new associates.
Powers and Roberts joined GW&K in the mid-1990s and were appointed Co-Presidents in 2006. Powers will continue to oversee the firm’s sales, marketing and relationship management functions. Roberts will continue to be responsible for the firm’s business operations, including finance, compliance, information technology, operations, human resources, and administration.
Powers joined GW&K in 1996 from The Boston Company to lead the firm’s sales and marketing efforts. In this role, he built close relationships with institutions, consultants, advisors, RIAs, and family offices on a national scale and transformed GW&K’s sales team, marketing department, and relationship management teams to meet the needs of a growing firm and evolving marketplace. Powers is a member of the firm’s Executive, Management, Investment and ESG Committees.
Roberts joined the firm in 1994 from Felton, Berlin as a vice president and director of operations, and has been responsible for establishing GW&K’s strategic plan and managing the firm’s overall business operations. He sits on several committees at GW&K including its Executive, Management, Investment, Brokerage, and Cybersecurity Committees.
In a joint statement, Powers and Roberts said, “Harold’s impact on the firm as CEO cannot be overstated. His steadfast leadership during multiple market cycles, passion for helping clients, and strategic vision in growing the firm have all been critical to the success GW&K enjoys today. We are grateful for his contributions, not only as CEO, but throughout his almost five-decade career at GW&K and look forward to continuing to work with him.”
About GW&K Investment Management
GW&K was founded in 1974 to offer innovative investment solutions consistent with its clients’ objectives. Through the years, the firm has successfully introduced a range of equity and fixed income strategies, all of which are actively managed, research-driven and guided by a clear and disciplined investment process. Today, GW&K manages 32 distinct strategies for a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, public funds, endowments, foundations and financial institutions. As of March 31, 2022, GW&K had $51 billion in assets under management.
