Northern Trust Asset Management Strengthens Credit Research and High-Yield Investment Expertise with Key Appointments
Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM), a prominent global investment management firm, has announced several strategic hires within its global fixed income team to further enhance its credit investing and fundamental research capabilities. With $1.3 trillion in assets under management (AUM) as of September 30, 2024, NTAM’s continued investment in talent, technology, and research reflects its commitment to offering robust solutions for its clients, particularly in the credit and high-yield sectors.
Christian Roth, Chief Investment Officer for Global Fixed Income at NTAM, emphasized the importance of these appointments in strengthening the firm’s research and investment capabilities. “NTAM continues to invest in its global fixed income capabilities, talent, and technology. The contributions of these talented professionals strengthen our fundamental research expertise and high yield investing capabilities,” Roth said. As NTAM looks ahead to 2025, the firm remains confident in its market outlook, which favors high-yield bonds due to their elevated yields, strong fundamentals, and favorable market conditions.
Kevin Gaydos Appointed Head of Credit Research
Leading the newly appointed team is Kevin Gaydos, who joins NTAM as Head of Credit Research. Gaydos will oversee a team of investment analysts who focus on evaluating the entire capital structure of issuers, with particular attention to both investment-grade and high-yield issuers. His appointment is seen as a key move to bolster NTAM’s credit research and strengthen its high-yield investment strategies. Gaydos brings a wealth of experience to the role, having most recently served as Co-Head of Credit Research at Aviva Investors. He has held several senior analyst positions at Principal Global Investors throughout his career. Gaydos holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame, showcasing his academic and professional grounding in the industry.
Expanding the Fixed Income Team
In addition to Gaydos’s appointment, NTAM has expanded its global fixed income team with several key hires, each contributing unique expertise in credit investing, portfolio management, and research.
Sau Mui, Senior High Yield Portfolio Manager
Sau Mui, CFA, has been named Senior High Yield Portfolio Manager. Mui will manage high-yield and complex bond portfolio strategies across various client segments. She brings 13 years of experience in fixed income investing, having previously worked as a senior high-yield portfolio manager at Aviva Investors. Mui has also held roles at PPM America, Harris Associates, and Putnam Investments. Her extensive experience and deep understanding of high-yield markets will be instrumental in strengthening NTAM’s high-yield investment offerings. Mui holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, further enhancing her credentials in the field.
Jeff Jones, Senior High Yield Trader
Jeff Jones has joined NTAM as a Senior High Yield Trader. In his new role, Jones will be responsible for trading a wide range of active, passive, and systematic high-yield strategies. Jones has more than 20 years of experience in trading and portfolio management, with a background that includes senior roles at Barclays Capital and Goldman Sachs. Most recently, he served as Head of Trading for North America and Senior High Yield Trader at Aviva Investors. Jones’s extensive trading expertise will play a crucial role in executing high-yield strategies, ensuring that NTAM can meet client needs in this space.
Melinda Lans-Kautz, Senior Credit Research Analyst
Melinda Lans-Kautz has been appointed Senior Credit Research Analyst, focusing on the analysis and evaluation of both investment-grade and high-yield corporate issuers. Lans-Kautz brings over 30 years of experience in credit research, having previously worked as a senior credit analyst at Aviva Investors. Her career has also included roles at UBS Global Asset Management and PPM America, where she gained valuable insights into corporate credit markets. Lans-Kautz holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, and her extensive experience will be essential in guiding NTAM’s credit research strategy moving forward.
Adán Jiménez, Credit Research Analyst
Adán Jiménez joins NTAM as a Credit Research Analyst, where he will focus on evaluating investment-grade and high-yield corporate issuers. Jiménez previously worked as a credit research analyst at Aviva Investors, Northernwhere he gained hands-on experience in evaluating corporate bonds. His appointment strengthens NTAM’s Northern research capabilities and enhances its ability to assess the creditworthiness of issuers across the spectrum Northern.
NTAM’s Continued Investment in Global Fixed Income Capabilities
NTAM’s global fixed income platform now manages $486.5 billion in assets under Northern management (AUM) as of September 30, 2024, with a comprehensive suite of liquidity and cash, credit, high-yield, and municipal bond solutions available across active, quantitative, and indexing strategies. This Northern platform continues to evolve, as NTAM seeks to meet the diverse needs of its clients through a combination of in-depth research, disciplined investment processes, and a broad array of investment solutions.
The firm’s continued focus on growing its global fixed income team reflects its commitment to delivering tailored investment solutions that seek to meet the specific needs of its clients. By strengthening its research capabilities and expanding its high-yield investment expertise, NTAM is positioning itself to Northern capture opportunities in the global fixed income markets, particularly as yields remain elevated and market Northern conditions continue to evolve Northern .
Market Outlook and High-Yield Bonds
Looking ahead to 2025, NTAM’s market outlook remains optimistic, particularly for high-yield bonds. Christian Roth, the firm’s Chief Investment Officer for Global Fixed Income, explained, “NTAM’s market outlook favors high-yield bonds because of their elevated yields, strong fundamentals, and a supportive market backdrop.” This sentiment is reflected in the firm’s strategic focus on expanding its credit research and high-yield investing capabilities, ensuring that NTAM is well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by this segment.
As global fixed income markets continue to evolve, NTAM’s team of experienced investment professionals is focused on delivering solutions that align with the firm’s commitment to risk management, long-term value creation, and meeting the unique investment objectives of clients worldwide. Whether through active management or quantitative strategies, NTAM’s growing global fixed income platform offers a diverse range of solutions for investors seeking liquidity, income, and capital preservation.
NTAM’s recent series of appointments reflects the firm’s commitment to enhancing its fixed income capabilities, particularly in the areas of credit investing and high-yield research. With an experienced team in place, NTAM is well-equipped to continue providing high-quality investment Northern solutions that meet the needs of its clients, even as market conditions continue to evolve. As the firm Northern moves into 2025, its market outlook remains positive, and its robust fixed income platform positions NTAM to deliver value across a variety of investment strategies.
