Nuveen has announced the appointment of William Huffman as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. Huffman, who will chair Nuveen’s executive leadership team and be a member of TIAA’s executive committee, replaces José Minaya.
With over 30 years of experience in asset management, Huffman recently served as President of Nuveen Asset Management and Head of Equities and Fixed Income. In this role, he led a team responsible for managing a global investment business with over $1 trillion in assets across equities, fixed income, municipal bonds, multi-asset, private equity, and financing for the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program, providing the firm’s clients with diverse capabilities and solutions.
“Bill’s unwavering dedication to the best interests of clients and the development of the firm’s strategy has had a transformative impact on Nuveen’s business and culture, driving growth and innovation over the past 16 years. I am delighted to welcome Bill to this position and am confident that Nuveen will thrive under his leadership. We are grateful for all of José’s contributions and wish him much success in the future,” said Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of TIAA.
As part of the firm’s executive leadership team since joining the group in 2008, Huffman has been at the forefront of Nuveen’s evolution and played a key role in increasing the firm’s assets under management to $1.2 trillion from the $800 billion it had in 2014 when TIAA acquired Nuveen. Among Huffman’s expanding responsibilities have been leading multiple major acquisitions and overseeing the investment teams responsible for managing over $1 trillion in both listed and unlisted markets.
William Huffman, now CEO of Nuveen, stated: “I am proud to take on the responsibility of leading Nuveen’s exceptional and dedicated team. We will continue to strengthen our position as a market leader in fixed income, offering clients enhanced capabilities in listed and alternative markets, and investing in our wealth and institutional businesses in key segments such as insurance and pensions. An increased international presence will enable Nuveen to serve its clients in new ways, building on the solid foundation of a diverse and stable business.”
According to the firm, Nuveen’s global operating model is designed to provide specialized investment capabilities across all asset classes, meeting the needs of clients worldwide and throughout various market cycles.
20 years of experience
William Huffman is the executive sponsor of Nuveen’s Philanthropic Steering Committee and the Culture and Inclusion Council, which is responsible for developing an inclusive culture for all associates. He led the acquisition of FAF Advisors (the former asset management division of U.S. Bank), Greenworks Lending, and Arcmont Asset Management, as well as the integration of numerous subsidiaries, including Nuveen Asset Management, TIAA Public Investments, TIAA Private Investments, Symphony Asset Management, NWQ Investment Management, Santa Barbara Asset Management, and Churchill Asset Management.
Before joining Nuveen, Huffman was CEO of Northern Trust Global Investments Limited. He resides in the Chicago area and serves his community as vice-chairman of the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago, and is also a member of the Rush System Trustee and the Cancer Advisory Council.