The 2026 Elite Institutional CIOs celebrates exceptional Chief Investment Officers across Public Pension Funds, Endowments, Foundations, and Corporate Pension Funds in North America. This annual distinction honors CIOs who demonstrate outstanding leadership, disciplined investment acumen, and a forward-looking approach to navigating a rapidly evolving global market.
This year’s honorees have excelled amid shifting macroeconomic conditions, geopolitical complexity, evolving risk frameworks, and rising stakeholder expectations. They continue to strengthen long-term resilience, elevate portfolio construction and governance standards, and steward capital with purpose and accountability. Many have championed meaningful advancements in areas such as private markets, responsible innovation, enterprise-wide data and technology integration including the thoughtful use of AI, and mission-aligned investing.
The 2026 edition highlights seasoned CIOs who have shaped the direction of institutional investing over many years as well as emerging leaders who bring fresh perspective, strategic agility, and transformative vision to their organizations. Each has delivered measurable impact, whether through building high-performing investment teams, enhancing decision-making frameworks, or driving performance in alignment with institutional values and long-term objectives.
We are proud to recognize their leadership, dedication, and contributions to the institutional investment community, and we celebrate the influence they continue to have in shaping the future of asset management.
Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Public Pension Fund
Jase Auby serves as chief investment officer of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), where he oversees approximately $220B...
Jase Auby serves as chief investment officer of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), where he oversees approximately $220B in assets for more than two million active and retired educators across the state. Appointed to the CIO role in 2019, Auby is responsible for leading the investment management division, setting long-term strategy, and guiding TRS’ global investment program. Since joining TRS in 2009, he has held several senior leadership positions, including deputy CIO, chief risk officer, and co-chair of the management committee, where he played a key role in advancing investment risk capabilities and developing new strategies across the trust. Earlier in his career, Auby worked in the fixed income division at Goldman Sachs and in structured credit at Lehman Brothers, followed by roles with two early-stage firms in Austin. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and computer systems engineering from Harvard University and is a CFA charterholder.
AUM
$220 B
LOCATION
Austin
REGION
Texas
TIME AT FUND
17 year(s)
Jagdeep Singh Bachher
University of California Investments Endowment
Jagdeep Singh Bachher serves as chief investment officer of the University of California, where he oversees approximately $209B in assets...
Jagdeep Singh Bachher serves as chief investment officer of the University of California, where he oversees approximately $209B in assets across the UC pension, endowment, retirement savings plans, and working capital. Appointed in 2014, Bachher is responsible for setting investment strategy, leading the investment organization, and managing the university’s systemwide investment programs. During his tenure, he introduced a framework known as the UC Investments Way to guide decision-making and foster a collaborative investment culture. He also established the UC Investments Academy, an initiative designed to provide students with educational programming, mentorship, and exposure to careers in finance.
This year, Bachher and his team are focused on the continued development of the AI Futures Lab, a partnership between UC Investments and the Berkeley Institute for Data Science that aims to advance research, innovation, and collaboration in artificial intelligence across the UC community.
Before joining the University of California, Bachher held senior roles at Alberta Investment Management Corp. — a Canadian “Maple Eight” pension fund — including serving as executive vice-president of venture and innovation. Earlier in his career, he worked in the U.S. wealth management, Canadian, and investment divisions of Manulife Financial and has experience in entrepreneurial ventures. Bachher holds a PhD and a master’s degree in management sciences, as well as a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in mechanical engineering, all from the University of Waterloo, where he currently serves as chancellor.
AUM
$209 B
LOCATION
Oakland
REGION
Northern California
TIME AT FUND
11 year(s)
Tim Barrett
Texas Tech University System (TTUS) Endowment
Tim Barrett serves as associate vice chancellor and chief investment officer for the Texas Tech University System (TTUS), where he...
Tim Barrett serves as associate vice chancellor and chief investment officer for the Texas Tech University System (TTUS), where he oversees approximately $3.49B in endowment assets and leads the development and execution of the system’s long-term investment strategy. Barrett joined TTUS in 2013 and is responsible for managing the investment office, guiding asset allocation and manager selection, while supporting the financial objectives of the university system.
Earlier in his career, Barrett served as director of pension investments worldwide at Eastman Kodak, where he oversaw a global portfolio of retirement assets across multiple plans. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade at the San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association, ultimately serving as executive director and CIO. In those roles, he was responsible for the pension, corporate retirement plans, and an endowment program, with oversight of investment strategy, manager selection, and portfolio implementation.
For the year ahead, Barrett and his team are focused on expanding exposure to middle-market and lower-middle-market companies through both primary and secondary investment opportunities.
Barrett holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Riverside, and completed an executive program at Stanford Law School.
AUM
$4 B
LOCATION
Austin
REGION
Texas
TIME AT FUND
12 year(s)
Jon Braeutigam
Michigan Department of Treasury Public Pension Fund
Jon Braeutigam serves as chief investment officer for the Michigan Department of Treasury, overseeing approximately $110.5B in assets for the...
Jon Braeutigam serves as chief investment officer for the Michigan Department of Treasury, overseeing approximately $110.5B in assets for the State of Michigan. Appointed to the CIO role in 2008, Braeutigam leads the state’s investment programs, including its pension, trust, and retirement funds. He is responsible for setting strategy, managing the investment division, and supporting the financial objectives of Michigan’s public institutions. During his tenure, he has guided the investment program through multiple market cycles and has overseen the evolution of the portfolio across public and private markets. His lengthy career in public service in the state’s investment office spans risk management, portfolio construction, and investment oversight.
Braeutigam holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Michigan State University.
AUM
$111 B
LOCATION
Laingsburg
REGION
Michigan
TIME AT FUND
18 year(s)
Angie Buk
3M Private Sector Pension Fund
Angela Buk serves as chief investment officer at 3M, where she oversees approximately $26B in benefit fund assets. Appointed in...
Angela Buk serves as chief investment officer at 3M, where she oversees approximately $26B in benefit fund assets. Appointed in 2021, Buk leads the investment strategy and management of the company’s global retirement and benefit plans, guiding asset allocation and governance across multiple programs.
Before joining 3M, Buk served as chief investment officer for DTE Energy Co., where she was responsible for the company’s retirement and trust assets. Earlier in her career, she held roles focused on alternative investments at Chrysler and in global benefit asset management at DTE. Buk is also actively engaged in the local community through her involvement with charitable foundations in Michigan.
AUM
$26 B
LOCATION
Detroit
REGION
Michigan
TIME AT FUND
4 year(s)
Jeb Burns
Municipal Employees' Retirement System of Michigan Public Pension Fund
Jeb Burns serves as chief investment officer for the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan (MERS), where he oversees approximately...
Jeb Burns serves as chief investment officer for the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of Michigan (MERS), where he oversees approximately $19B in assets for local government employees across the state. Burns leads the investment division, sets long-term strategy, and manages the system’s global investment programs in support of its retirement objectives. He also contributes to organizational strategy as part of the senior leadership team.
Burns joined MERS in 2002 and has played a key role in the development of the investment office and its approach to portfolio construction, risk management, and manager oversight. In the current environment, he is focused on positioning the portfolio amid shifting global economic dynamics, with attention to international markets, demographic trends, and talent development within the investment team. Earlier in his career, he held roles in public policy, communications, legislative affairs, and budgeting with the State of Michigan, and worked as a financial advisor with Prudential Securities.
Burns holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in public policy from Wayne State University.
AUM
$19 B
LOCATION
Lansing
REGION
Michigan
TIME AT FUND
22 year(s)
TJ Carlson
Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) Public Pension Fund
TJ Carlson serves as chief investment officer for the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS), where he oversees approximately $10.2B...
TJ Carlson serves as chief investment officer for the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS), where he oversees approximately $10.2B in assets for more than 135,000 members. Carlson is responsible for leading the investment program, guiding long-term strategy, and managing the system’s retirement, life insurance, and long-term disability investment portfolios. He brings nearly 30 years of experience across public pensions, the private sector, and institutional consulting.
This year, Carlson and his team are focused on extending the system’s portable alpha program across the broader investment portfolio.
Earlier in his career, Carlson held investment leadership roles in both public and private sector organizations, bringing a diversified background in asset management to his role at MOSERS. Before beginning his investment career, he served in the United States Marine Corps and in the Marine Corps Reserve.
AUM
$10 B
LOCATION
Jefferson City
REGION
Central States
TIME AT FUND
4 year(s)
Scott Chan
California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) Public Pension Fund
Scott Chan serves as chief investment officer of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), where he oversees approximately $382B...
Scott Chan serves as chief investment officer of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS), where he oversees approximately $382B in assets and leads an investment team of more than 200 professionals. Appointed in 2024, Chan is responsible for setting investment strategy, managing the global portfolio, and supporting the financial objectives of one of the largest public pension funds in the world.
Before joining CalSTRS, Chan served as senior managing director for the University of California Regents, where he oversaw the global equities portfolio across the UC pension, endowment, and working capital programs. He also previously held the role of CIO at the Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement System and was a partner and portfolio manager for hedge fund partnerships.
Chan is active in the investment community through involvement with several industry and educational organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles, a Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and is a CFA charterholder.
AUM
$382 B
LOCATION
Sacramento
REGION
Northern California
TIME AT FUND
7 year(s)
Harshal Chaudhari
General Electric Aerospace Private Sector Pension Fund
Harshal Chaudhari serves as chief investment officer, global pensions and insurance at GE Aerospace, where he oversees approximately $90B in...
Harshal Chaudhari serves as chief investment officer, global pensions and insurance at GE Aerospace, where he oversees approximately $90B in pension and savings assets. Chaudhari is responsible for investment strategy, governance, and the management of retirement assets across multiple plans.
Prior to joining GE, Chaudhari spent more than a decade at IBM, where he held several senior leadership positions, including CIO for the IBM Retirement Funds and vice-president of finance. During his tenure, he also served as chief financial officer for IBM’s analytics solutions and industry cloud solutions divisions, as well as holding strategy and trading roles within the company’s treasury function.
Chaudhari holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Mumbai and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School.
AUM
$90 B
LOCATION
New York City
REGION
Tri-State
TIME AT FUND
6 year(s)
Amy Chen
Smithsonian Institution Endowment Plan
Amy Chen serves as chief investment officer of the Smithsonian Institution, where she oversees the endowment in support of one...
Amy Chen serves as chief investment officer of the Smithsonian Institution, where she oversees the endowment in support of one of the world’s largest museum, education, and research organizations. Appointed as the institution’s first CIO in 2006, Chen is responsible for investment strategy, manager selection, and the long-term stewardship of the Smithsonian’s financial assets. Under her leadership, the investment program has expanded beyond traditional markets to incorporate a broader range of global public and private investment strategies aligned with the institution’s mission and objectives.
Prior to joining the Smithsonian, Chen held senior investment roles in the private sector, where she gained experience across public and alternative asset classes.
