Lord Abbett&Co. Makes Executive Appointments

The firm announced:

• Daria Foster will assume the role of Managing Partner where she will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm. She will continue as President and Director of the Lord Abbett Family of Mutual Funds — roles she has held since 2006. Foster is credited with growing the company’s institutional business, the announcement said.
• Robert Dow, who currently serves as Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer, will be named to the newly-created position of Senior Partner to focus on the strategic direction. Dow also will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Lord Abbett Family of Mutual Funds.
• Robert Gerber will inherit Dow’s seat as CIO. Gerber joined Lord Abbett in 1997, became a partner in 1998 and is now responsible for the investment grade taxable fixed-income area.

Foster joined Lord Abbett as Director of Fixed Income Marketing and was appointed Director of Institutional Marketing two years later. In 2005, she became responsible for the firm’s sales and marketing efforts in the institutional and retail areas.

Dow began his investment career with Lord Abbett in the early 1970s, when he joined the firm as a Research Analyst. He has served in a number of investment positions, including Portfolio Manager for several Lord Abbett funds, and overseeing the fixed income area, as well as Chief Investment Officer.

The appointments are effective October 1, 2007.