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
Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. (CBIS) is a leader in Catholic socially responsible investing (SRI) with approximately $4.6 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.