Press Release Archives | CBIS | Catholic Socially Responsible Investment Solutions

CHICAGO, IL – After an extensive search, the Board of Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) appointed Jeffrey McCroy as the firm’s new CEO, effective May 18, 2017. Mr. McCroy joined CBIS from American Century Investments (ACI), where he served as Head of Global Client Relationship Management since 2012. McCroy succeeds Brother Michael O’Hern, who served as CBIS CEO for 28 years and played an integral role in the organization’s CEO search and succession plan.

Read the full press release here.

Industry Veteran Brings Extensive Management, Research and Analysis Experience to Position, Reinforcing Firm’s Leadership in Catholic Socially Responsible Investing

NEW YORK — April 2, 2014 — Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), a leader in socially responsible investing for Catholic institutions, has selected John W. Geissinger, CFA, a 30-year veteran of the global asset management industry, as its new Chief Investment Officer.

As a key member of CBIS’ management team, Mr. Geissinger will be responsible for the development of CBIS’ overall investment policy and direction, and will represent the organization in the investment community. He will also be responsible for developing asset allocation models and risk management parameters for CBIS’ participants, supervising the organization’s manager-of-managers function and collaborating in the development of new products. Mr. Geissinger succeeds Frank Haines, who retired from CBIS in August 2013 after 13 years as CIO.

Mr. Geissinger has more than three decades of portfolio and risk management experience working with prominent financial services firms where he gained broad cross-functional expertise in fixed income and equity markets, hedge funds and private equity funds on behalf of clients in the United States and other countries. Most recently, he was a Partner with Hewitt EnnisKnupp, a provider of investment counseling services to a diverse client base including corporate and public pension plans, endowments, foundations and defined contribution plans. Prior to that, he held chief investment officer roles with the North Dakota Retirement and Investment Office; Natsource, LLC; and Bear Stearns Asset Management.

“The depth and breadth of John’s background have positioned him well to help guide CBIS to the next level of growth,” said Brother Michael W. O’Hern, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBIS, which last year surpassed $5 billion in assets under management. “We are confident he will prove a tremendous boon in developing investment advice for our clients and strengthening our internal dialogue about global capital markets and investment opportunities.”

At CBIS, Mr. Geissinger will also tap his analytics experience to develop and maintain performance results relating to the organization’s investment program options and participant accounts.

“I’m excited to bring my investment expertise to an organization on the forefront of mission-based investing for Catholic institutions,” said Mr. Geissinger. “I look forward to helping to grow the organization by leading the investment team and developing innovative investment offerings, strategies and products that have the potential to satisfy our clients’ needs.”

For more information, please contact Melanie Blanco of JCPR at (973) 850-7337 or [email protected].

About Christian Brothers Investment Services 
Founded in 1981, Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. (CBIS) is a global investment management firm that is the leader in Catholic socially responsible investing for Catholic institutions. With more than $5.0 billion in assets under management, CBIS uniquely combines premier asset managers, diverse investment offerings, faith-based stock screening and shareholder advocacy to help Catholic institutions align their investments with their values and do more good in the world. CBIS is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm owned by the De La Salle Christian Brothers in the U.S. and the Generalate of the Brothers in Rome. CBIS is headquartered in New York and has offices in Chicago, San Francisco and Rome. To learn more, visit cbisonline.com.

Louis DeThomasis, FSC, Appointed Corporate Chairman of CBIS Global; Alessandro Lombardi Named President of CBIS Global; David L. Skelding Promoted to CBIS Executive Vice President

NEW YORK — September 4, 2013 — Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS), a leader in socially responsible investing for Catholic institutions, announces that Louis DeThomasis, FSC, has been appointed Corporate Chairman of its European division, CBIS Global. Br. DeThomasis, currently President of CBIS Global, will continue to be based in Rome and will work closely with Alessandro Lombardi, who will succeed him as President, on strategic direction and corporate growth. In addition, David L. Skelding, currently CBIS Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, has been promoted to Executive Vice President. He had been named Head of Distribution in July in addition to his current responsibilities.

“Brother Louis has been an integral part of CBIS from our very beginning in 1981. As one of our founders and a driving force behind CBIS Global, his contributions to both the firm and the broader needs of the Catholic institutional investment community have been invaluable,” said Michael W. O’Hern, FSC, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBIS. “We honor his legacy of innovation and service, and are pleased to name him Corporate Chairman of CBIS Global.”

Founded in 2008, CBIS Global serves Catholic institutional investors in the European Union and elsewhere. CBIS Global offers diversified global equity and fixed-income exposure through four Euro-denominated funds — the CBIS Global European Short-Term Government Bond Fund, CBIS Global Global Bond Fund, CBIS Global European Equity Fund and CBIS Global Global Equity Fund.

Br. DeThomasis served as the first President and later Chairman of the Corporation of CBIS from 1981 until 1987. He is a member of the De La Salle Christian Brothers and was President of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. In 1989, Br. DeThomasis was knighted to the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal. He was awarded a doctor of laws degree, honoris causa, by the University of St. Thomas in 2008. Mr. Lombardi worked for BNL BNP Paribas Roma, one of the 10 largest banking groups in the world, prior to joining CBIS. Mr. Lombardi’s deep experience within the European institutional investment marketplace and knowledge of the needs of Catholic institutions will enable CBIS Global to continue its expansion.

In his new role as Executive Vice President, Mr. Skelding is responsible for all participant service and development initiatives, and will also continue in his role as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. His new title recognizes the key role he plays in corporate strategy. During his tenure, Mr. Skelding has overseen legal and compliance matters, in addition to leading CBIS’ participant services department from 1999 to 2005. Earlier in his career, Mr. Skelding was an equity partner in Chicago-based law firm Lord Bissell & Brook.

“These management transitions are representative of CBIS’ strong growth and maturity into a global socially responsible asset manager,” said Br. O’Hern. “These new roles for Brother Louis, Alessandro and David will lead to greater alignment between CBIS and CBIS Global as we continue to serve Catholic institutions around the world.”

About Christian Brothers Investment Services and CBIS Global
Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. (CBIS) is a leader in Catholic socially responsible investing (SRI) with approximately $4.7 billion in AUM for Catholic institutions worldwide, including dioceses, religious institutes, educational institutions and health care organizations. CBIS’ combination of premier institutional asset managers, diversified product offerings, and careful risk-control strategies constitutes a unique investment approach for Catholic institutions and their fiduciaries. CBIS strives to integrate faith-based values into the investment process through a disciplined approach to socially responsible investing that includes principled purchasing (stock screens), active ownership strategies (proxy voting, dialogues, and shareholder resolutions) and community investment. CBIS Global is the European division of CBIS, providing ethical investment management to Catholic institutions in Europe and beyond. CBIS Global is the sponsor of CBIS Global Funds plc headquartered in Dublin. Visit CBIS at www.cbisonline.com.

NEW YORK – August 6, 2013 – Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) and CBIS Global Funds announced today that Chief Investment Officer Frank D. Haines, CFA, will retire on August 30, 2013. Richard L. Wolf, Senior Investment Analyst, will serve as interim Chief Investment Officer. A search for a new Chief Investment Officer will commence immediately, utilizing an external executive recruiting firm specializing in high-level investment professionals.

Mr. Haines joined CBIS in 1999 as a Senior Investment Analyst. He was promoted to Chief Investment Officer and appointed to the management team in June 2000. Under Mr. Haines’ tenure, CBIS’ assets under management grew from $2.6 billion as of December 31, 2000 to $4.7 billion as of June 30, 2013. In addition to oversight of all CBIS sub-advisers, Mr. Haines was instrumental in guiding the expansion of CBIS internationally through the introduction of CBIS Global Funds, and, most recently, the launch of an innovative fixed income fund, the CUIT Opportunistic Bond Fund, to help protect CBIS participants from a volatile interest rate environment.

“Frank Haines has been with CBIS for 14 years, and has been Chief Investment Officer for 13 of those years. In that time, he has contributed a great deal to the quality of our investment program, most notably proving a steady hand and astute mind during the financial crisis five years ago. During that challenging period, he led our oversight of our sub-advisers and their portfolios very successfully, protecting the Catholic institutions investing with CBIS from the worst types of losses that occurred at that volatile time. We thank him for his service and wish him the best in his retirement, “said CBIS Chief Executive Officer Michael W. O’Hern, FSC.

“I am also pleased that Richard Wolf, who has worked side-by-side with Frank for 13 years, has agreed to act as interim CIO, ensuring that CBIS participants will receive expert investment oversight while we search for Frank’s replacement. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, Richard is eminently qualified to serve as CIO. In addition, Richard will be assisted by CBIS’ Investment Advisory Committee, a long-standing group of five experienced industry professionals formed to offer their perspective and counsel to our internal investment staff, and by the Investment Team, an internal group of CBIS professionals convened to leverage the investment expertise in other areas of the firm. Of course, I will be working closely with Richard during this period of transition,” he continued.