The CFA Institute has honoured Ronald Kahn, managing director and global head of scientific equity research at BlackRock Inc., and Richard Grinold, former global director of research at Barclays Global Investors, with the James R. Vertin Award.
The award for outstanding contributions to the investment industry and related fields of research and education was presented at the CFA Institue’s annual awards ceremony in Toronto on Monday, June 3.
Both recipients are leading researchers and experts in the industry; their collaborative efforts date back to 1987. Over the past 26 years, they have pioneered scientific active equity (SAE) solutions, including writing their influential book Active Portfolio Management (1995, 2nd edition 2000).
The James R. Vertin Award is presented periodically to recognize individuals who have produced a body of research notable for its relevance and enduring value to investment professionals. This award was established in 1996 to honor James R. Vertin, for his outstanding leadership in promoting excellence and relevancy in research and education
Kahn, currently responsible for upholding and enhancing BlackRock’s scientific equity research standards and products, has been contributing to the field of equity research and investment solutions for more than 20 years.
He is a 2007 winner of the Bernstein Fabozzi/Jacobs Levy award for best article in the Journal of Portfolio Management and serves on the editorial advisory boards of the Financial Analysts Journal, Journal of Portfolio Management and the Journal of Investment Consulting.
Kahn earned an AB degree in physics, summa cum laude, from Princeton University in 1978, and a PhD in physics from Harvard University in 1985. He was a post-doctoral fellow in physics at University of California, Berkeley.
CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals that sets the standard for professional excellence and credentials.
Headquartered in New York, BlackRock is a leader in investment management, risk management and advisory services for institutional and retail clients worldwide.