Callan names Catherine Beard as SVP of alternatives consulting practice

05 November 2019 Consulting.us

Investment consulting firm Callan has appointed Catherine Beard, a chartered financial analyst (CFA), as senior vice president of its alternatives consulting practice. Beard will be based out of Chicago and will focus on private credit and strategy diversification. She will work under Pete Keliuotis, Callan’s executive vice president and head of alternatives consulting.

The hire comes as Callan continues its reach into the alternative investment sector. Alternative investments encompass those investments related to assets other than stocks, bonds, or cash. Callan’s alternatives consulting team, which currently consists of 10 advisors, is predominantly focused on private equity and debt, hedge funds, and other methods of private investment. The firm’s alternative investment practice operates separately from the real assets practice.

Callan names Catherine Beard as SVP of alternatives consulting practice

"Catherine brings tremendous value to the Callan team, including extensive experience and a strong reputation as an investor, consultant, and allocator," Keliuotis said. "We expect her to contribute strongly to our research, consulting, education, and business development efforts across alternatives at Callan."

Prior to joining Callan, Beard worked as a principal consultant at Sinclair Capital, a Chicago-based investment consulting firm. She also previously worked as a principal and director of research at Blueprint Capital Advisors, where she was responsible for clients’ alternative investments. Additionally, Beard served as the sector head of alternative credit manager research at Mercer Investment Consulting, as well as senior manager of the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust’s private credit portfolio.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from Indiana University. She also holds an advanced French degree from L'University Catholique De L'Ouest in Angers, France.

"I am eager to join the Callan team to help bring broadened alternatives solutions to its deep client base," Beard said. "I believe that Callan is well-positioned to build a first-class alternatives effort."

Callan was founded in 1973. It is headquartered in San Francisco, and operates out of regional offices in Denver; Atlanta; Chicago; Summit, New Jersey; and Portland, Oregon. The firm currently advises on more than $2 trillion in total assets.