Putnam Names Global Asset Allocation Leaders

The team will be led by co-heads James Fetch, Robert Kea, Robert Schoen and Jason Vaillancourt. Working closely with Walter C. Donovan, chief investment officer at Putnam, the new leadership team will be responsible for overall strategy and positioning of the GAA products, which include asset and risk allocation, absolute return and retirement and college savings. GAA’s 13-person group manages approximately $10 billion in assets for a variety of clients.      

Fetch continues to lead portfolio construction and risk. He has been in the investment industry for nearly 20 years and joined Putnam in 1994. Fetch has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.

Kea drives top-down equity efforts. A 25-year industry veteran, he joined Putnam in 1989. Kea has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a master’s degree in business administration from Bentley College.    

Schoen oversees equity process and risk. He has nearly 25 years of investment industry experience and joined Putnam in 1997. Schoen has a B.A. degree from Tufts University and a master’s degree in business administration from New York University, Stern School of Business.

Vaillancourt manages global macro efforts. He brings 20 years of investment industry experience and has been with Putnam since 2000. Vaillancourt has a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.

As a team, the four will continue to manage the Putnam Absolute Return 500 Fund, Putnam Absolute Return 700 Fund, Putnam Dynamic Asset Allocation Funds, Putnam Dynamic Risk Allocation Fund, Putnam Retirement Income Lifestyle Funds, Putnam RetirementReady Funds, Putnam’s Total Return institutional portfolio and portfolios within Putnam 529 for America.  

Jeff Knight, who previously led the group, has left the firm to pursue other opportunities.