Zach Buchwald, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman

Zach Buchwald

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Zach Buchwald is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Russell Investments. Zach is responsible for driving Russell Investments' strategy and results at a time when the firm's customized, client-focused approach directly aligns with the need for specialized portfolio solutions.

Zach joined Russell Investments in 2023 from BlackRock, where he served as the head of its $2Tn Institutional Business. Earlier he led BlackRock’s Financial Institutions Group and helped establish its Retirement Solutions and Financial Markets Advisory platforms. Prior to this, Zach served as a managing director at Morgan Stanley, where he led the bank’s collateralized loan obligation (CLO) business.

Zach frequently addresses the challenges of financial security and retirement in his thought leadership and commentary, which has been featured in Newsweek and Fortune. He is a graduate of Harvard University and lives with his family in Seattle.

Meet our leadership team


Our leaders work toward a single purpose:
To improve people's financial security.



Executive Committee

Zach Buchwald, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Zach Buchwald

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Kate El-Hillow, Global Chief Investment Officer

Kate El-Hillow

PRESIDENT & CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER

Vernon Barback

Vernon Barback

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Steve Belgrad

Steve Belgrad

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Pete Gunning

Peter Gunning

VICE CHAIRMAN, HEAD OF APAC

Jim Leggate

Jim Leggate

MANAGING DIRECTOR, HEAD OF EMEA

Jenny Proctor

Jenny Proctor

CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

Howard Surloff

Howard Surloff

CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER