After 10 years at the helm, CAIA Association chief executive officer William (Bill) Kelly has announced his plans to retire.
John Bowman, president at CAIA — which offers education and certifications for alternatives investing professionals — will succeed Kelly at year’s end.
This is the latest step in CAIA’s succession planning process: In December, Bowman was promoted to president at the organization. But, according to Kelly, he knew Bowman would be the right successor long before that announcement.
“John has naturally evolved into the face and voice of CAIA,” Kelly said. “It was something we’ve always been comfortable with, and John rose to the occasion. We’re being thoughtful about this transition.”
When Kelly joined CAIA in 2014, he was tasked with elevating the organization and bringing it more name recognition externally. He helped launch UniFi by CAIA, which has expanded the organization’s reach into the wealth management and retail investor space.
Five years after he joined, Kelly brought in Bowman, who has raised the nonprofit’s profile further. “One of the biggest roles as a leader is to be an employee’s biggest fan. It’s encouraging, correcting, steering, and championing. That’s the form Bill took on very early,” Bowman said.
In addition to running the certification program and launching micro credentials for CAIA members, the two have fostered CAIA’s growth in several countries, published industry guides, including 2022’s Portfolio for the Future, and launched podcasts.
According to Kelly, this is the “very best job” he’s ever had. His prior roles include serving as CEO for Boston Partners Asset Management and Robeco Investment Management.
“One of my proudest moments is that my signature sits on all the bottom of the charter holders certificates,” he added. “The fact that we have these 14,000 members — they are our eyes and ears around the world. Early on we had the Jane Buchans and Mark Ansons, but more and more of these charter holders are ending up in the C-suite. Our members mean the world to us.”
As CAIA moves ahead, the organization will contend with continued expansion, both in terms of location and deeper into the retail markets.
“The biggest opportunity and challenge that CAIA will face under John’s leadership is this concept of democratization,” Kelly said. “We now have to fund our own retirements. We as individuals have to understand investment risk, longevity risk, and what’s going on geopolitically.”
Kelly will work alongside Bowman until the end of 2024 to ensure a careful transition. And that involves planning for CAIA’s future, even beyond Bowman himself.
“Bill has taught me a ton about how to develop talent, how to encourage your employees, and how to exit well,” Bowman said. “I’m not thinking about my exit now, but Bill has taught me to have that conversation early.”
