#USA #Baltimore #Brown Advisory #Logie Fitzwilliams #Mike Hankin

Brown Advisory's Leadership Transition

In a groundbreaking move for its organizational structure, Brown Advisory has appointed Logie Fitzwilliams as Co-CEO to share responsibilities with long-standing CEO Mike Hankin. This transition comes as a strategic effort to bolster leadership amidst the growing needs of the firm’s clients, colleagues, and shareholders.

Mike Hankin, who has been at the helm since the firm's transformation into a private and independent entity in 1998, expressed his enthusiasm for this shift. “This is an exciting natural evolution for our leadership,” he noted, highlighting that both he and Logie have collaborated closely for the past 15 years. This partnership aims to enhance Brown Advisory's client-first initiative and cultivate a team-oriented approach across its operations.

Logie Fitzwilliams, who joined Brown Advisory in 2003 and has held pivotal roles including Head of International Business and Global Head of Sales, echoed Hankin’s sentiments. He emphasized their shared commitment to maintaining Brown Advisory's values as a private and independent firm, essential for prioritizing client needs. “It is a tremendous honor to join Mike in the leadership of Brown Advisory,” Fitzwilliams remarked. He conveyed confidence that their robust relationship would serve as a solid foundation for their joint leadership.

The decision to establish a Co-CEO framework was overseen by the firm’s independent Board of Directors, which sought to ensure the best leadership model for both current operations and future growth. Bob Flanagan, Lead Director of the Board, affirmed that the extensive discussions and deliberations culminated in the belief that the firm would be best served with both Mike and Logie at the helm. This structure aims to maintain the integrity of the firm's collaborative culture and drive operational success.

The remarkable growth of Brown Advisory under Mike Hankin's leadership is notable; since 1998, the firm’s assets under management have soared from $2 billion to approximately $170 billion, contributing to an impressive annual growth rate of 17%. Today, the firm serves clients across 51 countries, operating from 14 U.S. locations as well as significant offices in major international cities like London, Frankfurt, Singapore, and Tokyo. This diverse footprint enables Brown Advisory to cater to a broad spectrum of clients, including individual investors, families, nonprofits, and financial institutions.

The firm's commitment to client service is further reinforced by maintaining a high client-retention rate, exceeding 98% over the past decade. With nearly 1,000 colleagues dedicated to delivering top-tier investment performance and strategic insights, Brown Advisory strives to fulfill its client-first philosophy consistently.

In conjunction with this leadership overhaul, the firm also announced the appointment of Quintin Ings-Chambers as the new Head of International Business. Having joined Brown Advisory in 2012 and amassed over 25 years of investment experience, Ings-Chambers is expected to play a critical role in steering the firm’s international strategy and expanding its global client base.

As Brown Advisory embarks on this new chapter in its evolution, the emphasis remains on the cultivation of talent and the development of a collaborative culture that is geared toward addressing the ever-changing landscape of investment management. Both Mike Hankin and Logie Fitzwilliams are committed to ensuring that the firm's private ownership structure, where every employee is an equity owner, continues to be a cornerstone of its identity and operational effectiveness.

This pivotal leadership change not only signifies Brown Advisory's efforts to adapt to the evolving market demands but also strengthens its resolve to maintain the highest level of service and commitment to its clients well into the future. The company's focus on elevating its investment services while adhering to its foundational principles sets a high bar for strategic growth in the years to come.