After a wonderful thirty-three years with BlackRock, I retired on July 1. I joined the firm as a two-day administrative assistant while a graduate student in music at UC Berkeley. As an out gay musician, I was an unconventional hire for a financial services firm in 1991. Yet my career unfolded across three firms —Wells Fargo Nikko, Barclays Global Investors and BlackRock—and ultimately spanned many different senior roles. There are too many leaders who welcomed me, challenged me and sponsored me to name them all here. it was a special honor to have led global investment teams that were responsible for assets greater than $5 trillion across target date funds, index funds and ETFs. The culture of a firm is its true center and I have nothing but respect and admiration for what BlackRock’s founders have built and expanded. I am particularly proud of how BlackRock continues to challenge the status quo as an asset manager both in terms of its internal culture and how it operates externally. I am also honored to be have been part of founding the firm’s LGBTQIA+ network It was meaningful to me to retire during our recent global celebrations of Pride because BlackRock was a place that allowed me to become a proud, out gay executive. Lastly, I had the privilege of being a career advisor to so many who have themselves become senior leaders. I like to call this focus on future talent “planting sequoias,” an image inspired by the poet Wendell Berry about investing in things that outgrow and outlive our individual lives. I plan to continue to leverage my various experiences as a board member in my next chapter. On the non-profit front, I’m excited to share that I was just elected as the new Board Chair for the League of American Orchestras.
On 1st march 2025, I will launch my own platform for businesses to share their goals, from the top of mount Everest. The goals have to have a relationship with carbon footprints from the operation point. The operation point can be the building of any type of property, any type of cruise ship, and any new / refurbished 5* hotel project, any aviation business, and any road/rail transport project. The platform will be for a project or projects that has a finance need of a minimum £$€1,000,000,000 which we will offer under our 25 year PPA, so you don't need to borrow any monies, as we will give you it under a 12 month moratorium, and then turn the debt into a equity investment, within the 12 months moratorium, if the project can be completed within a further 36 months, from the end of the 12 month moratorium. Needless to say this platform is for mega companies and also mega/micro countries. We will support fossil fuel projects, if the fossil fuel is not for any combustion engine, oil has a greater requirement in a million other needs, this world cannot live without. Any company or country who wants to come and join the 25th century, in the 21st century, welcome aboard.
Such a well-written post on such a personal topic! Wishing you the happiest retirement. I think those seeds you planted went well beyond traditional leadership roles and in the very network that you wove across the firm(s). And so happy you get to use your music background in service to the League of American Orchestras! Bravo! All the best to you.
Congratulations Alan, my privilege to work with you and also for you, always thoughtful and inspirational, thanks for all you did for so many people, have a wonderful next chapter.
Thank you, Alan, for your invaluable guidance and wisdom over the years; your legacy will continue to inspire us all. Here’s to new adventures!
Oh man! You’re one of the few people in the SF office who have been there longer than I have! I’m very happy to have been able to work with you. And I play the clarinet and piano. Just sayin’ :-)
Congratulations Alan! Thank you for all of you guidance and support over the years. It was an honor to have your support in the Out Network and you involvement was pivitol to our success. We built the most effective ERG imaginable. I’ve always loved your story accidentally stepping into the finance world with you musical background. You led by example and empowered so many of us do do better and bring our true selves to work. Super grateful for you and I wish you a very happy retirement. Cheers 🥂
Beyond Thankful and Proud to have partnered with you these past 18 years!! Friends Forever
Congratulations! You’ve made it a better firm through all of those 33 years!
Digital Assets | Systematic Investing | Music Education
2moCongratulations Alan! What a marvelous description of your career! I will note that you overlooked one of your greatest moments and triumphs - Alan and the Alphas! Wishing you all the best in your future endeavors my friend!