George Gatch does not agree with the description of him as a "classic retail guy." That's one of the takeaways from a Q&A that Gatch, who was recently promoted to CEO of JPMorgan Asset Management's investment management unit in the Americas [see profile], did with Pensions & Investments:

George Gatch JPMorgan

Q: You've been described as as "classic retail guy."
A: That's not the way I would describe myself. I spent most of my career (at J.P. Morgan) growing up in an institutional investment management firm (building, among other things) an investment platform and relationship management team that serviced insurance companies, for the variable annuity and variable life insurance market. In many ways, it was the adaption of the great capabilities J.P. Morgan had been managing for large institutional investors to the needs of insurance companies, and adding the ability to communicate the benefits of the strategy towards a more retail client base. I also spent a period of time building the most successful institutional money fund business in the world.

Why the talk about Gatch's background? Perhaps Gatch wanted to correct misconceptions some people have about him.

Fundsters may recall a New York Times DealBook blog post last month in which the pub reported that Gatch's appointment "surprised many in the company who were looking to report to a person who had more of an institutional background," citing an anonymous source. 

Edited by: Armie Margaret Lee


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