Ravi Venkataraman joins Chestnut Advisory Group as managing partner

Ravi Venkataraman has joined Chestnut Advisory Group, a Naples, FL-based management consultancy serving the asset management industry, as managing partner.

Venkataraman, a former executive at MFS and Mercer, will lead the boutique firm’s strategic advisory work with asset managers and investment solutions providers in partnership with founder Amanda Tepper.

Tepper founded Chestnut in 2013, having previously served as global director of AllianceBernstein’s senior portfolio management team. She was also previously associate director of equity research at Bank of America.

Chestnut has a team of five professionals and offerings covering product and distribution strategy, M&A, brand, go-to-market strategy implementation, and distribution leadership coaching.

“I am delighted to join Chestnut and Amanda, who has built the firm into a respected, independent, research-driven management consulting firm,” said Venkataraman. “I can’t think of another asset management consulting firm whose senior team have each have held leadership roles in our industry for 20+ years and have experience directly implementing strategy. This practical experience was critical in my decision to join Chestnut.”

Venkataraman brings more than 30 years of experience in asset management and consulting. He spent the last 14 years at MFS Investment Management, where he most recently led the global investment solutions practice. Before that, he was head of consultant relations and defined contribution.

Venkataraman also previously spent 18 years at Mercer Investments, where he was latterly president, chief investment officer, and founder of its outsourced CIO business. Prior to that, he was a worldwide partner at the company.

Venkataraman has a master’s degree in economics from Tuft’s University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Xavier’s College, and is a chartered financial analyst.

“Ravi’s deep expertise across OCIO and solutions, distribution leadership, and consulting will be a huge benefit for our clients,” said Tepper. “I’m really looking forward to partnering with Ravi on new market research into pressing issues facing the investment industry and several exciting new initiatives we are planning together.”