In this episode of The CIO Chair, Sean Thompson and Hartej Singh are joined by Gerald Chen-Young, Chief Investment Officer of the National Public Pension Funds Association (NPPFA). Gerald oversees an internal portfolio while advising public pension systems representing police, fire, and teacher plans with nearly $1 trillion in combined assets.

Gerald reflects on his unusual career path, combining advanced training in economics and law. He explains how this combination has shaped his investment philosophy and fiduciary decision-making.

We explore asset-liability matching across different pools of capital, highlighting why each mandate requires its own investment framework. Gerald discusses the importance and limits of investment policy statements, arguing that IPSs should act as guidelines rather than rigid rulebooks. Drawing on the Global Financial Crisis and COVID-era market dislocations, he shares real-world examples where disciplined exceptions created long-term value.

Gerald also addresses diversification, private assets, and risk, cautioning against confusing reduced visibility with reduced volatility. He offers a nuanced view on ESG, responsible investing, and the political tensions surrounding these approaches in the US.

He shares his perspective as a newly appointed adjunct professor at Georgetown University, highlighting the importance of education in preparing the next generation of investment professionals.

We conclude with insights on global investing, emerging markets, academia’s role in developing future investors, and Gerald’s legacy as a CIO, defined by intellectual rigour, resilience under scrutiny, and work that stands the test of time!

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In this episode of The CIO Chair, Sean Thompson and Hartej Singh are joined by Rob Groves, Chief Investment Officer of Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC), to discuss how insurers invest to secure defined benefit pensions over the long term. Rob shares his career journey from actuarial training through consulting and banking to leading investments at one of the UK’s largest pension insurers.

The conversation explores PIC’s investment philosophy, including Rob’s scepticism of rigid strategic asset allocation. Instead, he outlines a flexible, optionality-driven approach focused on finding the best risk-adjusted opportunities across public and private credit, while continuously optimising the portfolio with a long-term mindset.

Culture and leadership feature strongly and Rob shares what he looks for when building investment teams, why collaboration and curiosity matter more than ego, and the importance of trusting judgment during difficult investment decisions.

The episode also covers lessons from the 2022 LDI crisis, market uncertainty, investing in the UK economy, and the growing role of technology and AI. Rob closes by reflecting on the legacy he hopes to leave as CIO: strong teams, a resilient culture, and dependable outcomes for pensioners.

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In this episode, Gallagher UK's Chief Investment Officer Pete Drewienkiewicz shares practical insights into how CIOs make strategic decisions in today’s evolving institutional investment environment.

Pete explains how governance frameworks, behavioural finance principles, and disciplined risk budgeting help chief investment officers navigate uncertainty and build portfolios that support long-term objectives.

Drawing on decades of experience across investment banking, manager research and consultancy, Pete offers a transparent look at the mindset and processes behind effective investment leadership. He discusses the challenges of manager selection, the growing role of private markets, and the influence of political and regulatory uncertainty on UK investing. Pete also speaks openly about luck, career turning points, and the importance of problem-solving as a defining trait of an effective chief investment officer, along with the legacy he hopes to leave as a CIO.

Packed with practical wisdom and real-world honesty, this episode is essential listening for current and future investment leaders.

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What does it take to evolve from a traditional chief investment officer to an outsourced CIO leading institutional portfolios at scale?

In this episode of The CIO Chair podcast hosts Sean Thompson and Hartej Singh sit down with Chetan Ghosh, OCIO at Schroders Solutions, to explore how the chief investment officer role is transforming, from in-house leadership at Centrica’s pension scheme to managing multi-client strategies at one of the world’s top investment firms.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Chetan offers rare insight into how CIO's can combine governance, agility, and long-term vision to deliver lasting results.

Chet shares his reflections on the challenges of managing risk in real time, building trust with stakeholders, and finding the right balance between structured process and intuitive decision-making. Our conversation also delves into the growing importance of the OCIO model, how it’s reshaping investment governance, and what it means for pension funds, asset owners, and the next generation of investment leaders.

Whether you’re a current CIO, an aspiring investment leader, or part of an institutional investment team, this conversation offers a candid look at how modern investment leadership is evolving.

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In this debut episode of The CIO Chair, Sean Thompson and Hartej Singh sit down with Simon Pilcher, CEO of USS Investment Management, to discuss leadership, investment philosophy, and the balance between responsibility and performance in managing £77 billion in assets for over half a million members.

The conversation delves into the importance of anticipating future scenarios in investment strategies, emphasising that historical patterns may not adequately prepare investors for upcoming challenges.

Simon shares stories of lucky breaks, lessons in trust, and the evolution of his leadership style over three decades in investment management.

We discuss the need for resilient portfolio management that can withstand various future uncertainties, rather than relying solely on past performance.

Simon reflects on the importance of humility, faith, and family in keeping perspective, and shares that his true legacy will be leaving behind a strong, values-driven team that continues serving USS members with integrity and purpose.

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Welcome to The CIO Chair - where leading chief investment officers share the strategies, philosophies, and human stories behind successful long-term investing.

In this short introductory episode, hosts Sean Thompson and Hartej Singh reveal the vision behind The CIO Chair: a new platform created by the cio investment club in collaboration with Pension Insurance Corporation. Together, they explain why this series exists- to bring real conversations with chief investment officers into the open.

Listeners will learn what to expect from future episodes:

• Exclusive interviews with top CIOs shaping institutional investment today
• Leadership lessons on how CIOs build teams, manage risk, and make strategic decisions
• Personal journeys that show the mindset and resilience it takes to sit in the CIO chair
• Future-focused discussions on how technology and innovation are redefining the investment landscape

Whether you’re an aspiring chief investment officer, a seasoned investment professional, or simply curious about the people driving institutional markets, this podcast offers insight into what truly defines investment leadership today.

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