Loomis Sayles [see profile] hired Chris Gootkind for the newly created role of director of research and credit strategist. Gootkind will start at the Boston-based Natixis Global Asset Management subsidiary on September 13 and report to Jae Park, chief investment officer for fixed income.

Gootkind's mandate is to "enhance the link between research and the investment process," Loomis Sayles spokeswoman Erin Heard told The MFWire.com. Gootkind will head up Loomis Sayles' 37-member credit research team.

Previously, Gootkind was an associate partner and credit portfolio manager at Wellington Management. Earlier, he worked at Scudder Kemper Investments and Mabon Nugent & Company.

It was not immediately clear how Gootkind's former duties are being handled. A Wellington spokesperson declined to comment.

---

Company Press Release

Chris Gootkind Joins Loomis Sayles as Director of Credit Research & Credit Strategist

BOSTON--Loomis, Sayles & Company announced today that Chris Gootkind, CFA, has joined the Fixed Income Group in the new role of director of credit research & credit strategist effective September 13. He will report to Jae Park, chief investment officer, Fixed Income. This addition follows significant recent new hires in the quantitative research & risk analysis and securitized teams, as well as in the areas of derivatives and absolute strategies.

Chris assumes leadership of Loomis Sayles' 37 person credit research group, which is a critical source of issuer and security specific insight employed across the full range of fixed income investment strategies and products. He will be responsible for ensuring that research is effectively and efficiently developed and delivered into the investment process. The credit research group is responsible for covering corporates in all domiciles, including investment grade, high yield, convertibles, bank loans, as well as municipal bonds. Chris also joins the investment grade sector team, one of the primary avenues through which research ideas are ultimately introduced into client portfolios.

"We are recognized in the industry for our best-in-class credit research and we believe Chris' talents and vision will continue to enhance our research capabilities as well as our reputation," said Jae Park. "Chris' extensive research, investment and portfolio management experience make him an excellent match for this leadership role."

Chris brings 29 years of fixed income investment experience to Loomis Sayles. Most recently he was an associate partner and credit portfolio manager at Wellington, where he initially joined as director of credit research in 2006. Prior to Wellington, Chris held various investment roles at Scudder Kemper investments, including managing director, head of investment grade research and portfolio manager. He began his career at Mabon Nugent & Company where he was in institutional corporate bond sales and trading.

About Loomis Sayles

Since 1926, Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. has served the investment needs of institutional and mutual fund clients. As performance-driven investors seeking exceptional opportunities, Loomis Sayles employs actively managed disciplines that combine fundamental research, systematic risk assessment and experienced portfolio management. This rich tradition has earned Loomis Sayles the trust and respect of clients worldwide, for whom it manages more than $141 billion in equity and fixed income assets as of June 30, 2010.

 

Stay ahead of the news ... Sign up for our email alerts now
CLICK HERE