2026 Elite Institutional CIOs, Part 6

Charles Nielsen serves as chief investment officer for the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) of Mississippi , where he oversees the investment strategy and management of approximately $37.6B in retirement assets. Nielsen leads the investment department in implementing programs and policies that align with state and federal regulations, ensuring the system maintains strong fiduciary oversight and long-term financial stability.

With a focus on prudent risk management and sustainable portfolio growth, Nielsen plays a key role in protecting the retirement security of public employees across Mississippi.

Anurag Pandit is the chief investment officer for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where he oversees the management of approximately $10B in long-term assets supporting the institution’s lifesaving mission. Under his leadership, the investment office plays a pivotal role in strengthening the hospital’s financial foundation to enable groundbreaking research, world-class treatment, and the promise that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for care.

Pandit brings more than 25 years of experience across endowment, pension, and equity portfolio management, including key roles at the Boston Children’s Hospital, John Hancock Financial Services , now owned by Manulife Financial and Loomis Sayles & Co.

For 2026, Pandit and his team are emphasizing highly liquid marketable alternatives to further diversify the portfolio, enhance flexibility, and ensure the foundation remains resilient in the current market environment.

He holds a Master of Science degree in management from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Delhi University.

Brian Pellegrino serves as chief investment officer of the Georgia Tech Foundation, where he oversees the stewardship of approximately $3.6B in endowment assets supporting the university’s academic excellence, research, and student success. Since joining Georgia Tech in 2018, Pellegrino has built a top-performing investment platform, institutionalized rigorous governance and analytics, and delivered strong, benchmark-exceeding returns across market cycles.

Before joining Georgia Tech, Pellegrino spent nearly two decades at UPS, ultimately serving as CIO responsible for strategy and portfolio management for a $40B defined-benefit pension plan covering more than 425,000 participants. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles across corporate finance, treasury, and mergers and acquisitions at the United Parcel Service.

Pellegrino holds a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from Rutgers University, Newark, and a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Montclair State University.

Donald Pierce is the chief investment officer for the San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association (SBCERA), where he oversees investment strategy, manager selection, and the day-to-day operations of the investment division. A member of the organization since 2001 and CIO since 2010, Pierce works closely with the board to guide long-term investment policy and ensure the portfolio is positioned to support the retirement benefits of San Bernardino County employees.

Over his tenure, Pierce has helped expand and modernize SBCERA’s portfolio architecture to include broader adoption of international private equity, emerging market debt, and derivatives-based strategies, while emphasizing risk-aware innovation. His leadership has contributed to strong long-term results for the approximately $17B retirement system.

Pierce holds a Bachelor of Science in statistics from San Diego State University and is a CFA charterholder. He remains active in the institutional investment community through professional association involvement.

Scott Pittman serves as senior vice-president and chief investment officer for the Mount Sinai Health System, where he oversees the management of approximately $3B in long-term assets supporting New York City’s largest healthcare provider. He also advises on more than $6B in insurance assets and $11B in retirement plan investments across the system. Pittman chairs multiple investment and benefits committees, shaping strategy that supports Mount Sinai’s mission of patient care, medical education, and scientific discovery.

Pittman joined Mount Sinai in 2009, bringing experience across capital markets, endowment management, and investment education. Earlier in his career, he served as director of investments at Baylor University, where he also taught finance and portfolio management in the Hankamer School of Business, and has managed global equity, hedge fund, and private market portfolios.

For the year ahead, Pittman and his team are continuing to evaluate how artificial intelligence is influencing both portfolio positioning and internal operations, while also assessing opportunities across Asia and their implementation within the broader investment strategy.

Carlos Rangel is the chief investment officer of the $10B W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where he oversees the foundation’s long-term investment portfolio supporting its mission to advance equitable opportunities for children, families, and communities. Over more than a decade at the foundation, he has held progressive leadership roles within the investment office, contributing to portfolio construction, risk oversight, and organizational strategy.

His industry influence extends across multiple organizations, including board and advisory roles with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Advisory Committee on Racial Equity, the Managed Funds Association, and the Milken Institute’s Inclusive Capitalism Council.

In 2026, Rangel and his team are prioritizing upgrades to their internal technology stack and piloting an artificial-intelligence-driven investment analyst to enhance research capabilities and operational efficiency.

Rangel holds a Master of Science degree in finance and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Michigan–Dearborn.

Timothy Reese serves as secretary, chief executive officer, and chief investment officer of the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System (PMRS), where he oversees the investment and operational strategy for a statewide defined-benefit pension plan managing more than $4B in assets for more than 1,100 municipalities and 20,000 current and retired members. Under his leadership, PMRS has achieved strong performance results, strengthened funded status, and advanced modernization efforts to improve operational efficiency and member services.

Reese brings more than two decades of experience across institutional finance, public service, and private-sector leadership, including serving as Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As treasurer, he championed technology innovation, governance improvements, and impact-focused investment initiatives. Throughout his career, he has built and managed diverse investment programs, developed emerging-manager strategies, and partnered with policymakers and industry leaders to enhance long-term portfolio resilience.

In 2026, PMRS is expanding into private credit and infrastructure to bolster portfolio diversification and capitalize on structural opportunities in the current market environment.

Reese holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Temple University and completed a business administration and management fellowship at the Fox School of Business.

Alyssa Rieder is the chief investment officer of CommonSpirit Health, where she oversees the management of approximately $26.9B in assets and leads a 20-person investment team. CommonSpirit Health, was formed from the merger of Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health and is one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the U.S., operating more than 1,000 care sites across 24 states and providing over $5B in annual charity care and community benefit. In her role, Rieder is responsible for investment strategy, manager selection, risk oversight, and ensuring the portfolio supports the system’s long-term mission of expanding access to high-quality care.

Before joining CommonSpirit Health in 2011, Rieder worked in the Office of the Treasurer of the Regents at the University of California, where she helped manage retirement and endowment assets with a focus on emerging markets and global equity strategies. Earlier, she spent a decade at Franklin Templeton Investments as a lead portfolio manager, sector team leader, and financial services research analyst. She has also held roles in management consulting and as chief financial officer and chief operations officer of a Bay Area social service agency. She currently serves as a trustee for Sempra Energy’s Nuclear Decommissioning Trust and on the advisory board for TIFF Advisory Services.

For the upcoming year, Rieder is implementing select co-investments alongside core private equity managers to enhance returns and improve fee efficiency across the private markets portfolio.

Rieder holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in quantitative economics from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Neil Roache is the chief investment officer for Johnson & Johnson, where he oversees investment strategy and asset stewardship for the company’s global defined-benefit pension plans and U.S. defined-contribution pension plans. These programs collectively represent a substantial multi-billion-dollar investment platform that supports the long-term financial security of Johnson & Johnson employees and retirees. In addition to pension asset management, Roache’s responsibilities extend to areas such as 401(k) oversight, share repurchase strategies, and administration of long-term incentive programs, working closely with senior leadership as a member of the firm’s benefits investment governance structure.

Roache joined Johnson & Johnson in 2016 after holding senior investment roles at major corporate institutions. He most recently served as vice-president of private markets and investment strategy at Exelon Corp., where he guided allocations across private equity, real estate, and private credit within a large trust portfolio. Earlier in his career, he contributed to investment programs at the United Parcel Service and Telcom Ventures, gaining broad experience across both public and private markets.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Roache also plays an industry leadership role as chair of the Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets in Washington, D.C., supporting advocacy and best practices for U.S. corporate pension plan sponsors.

Alison Romano serves as chief executive officer and chief investment officer of the $38.7B San Francisco Employees' Retirement System (SFERS), where she leads all investment and operational functions supporting the retirement security of the City and County of San Francisco’s active and retired workforce. Her role includes oversight of portfolio strategy, risk management, and benefits administration designed to ensure long-term financial resilience.

Romano joined SFERS in 2022 after more than a decade in leadership roles at the Florida State Board of Administration , including as deputy CIO. There she helped guide investment strategy across one of the nation’s largest public institutions and previously served as senior investment officer for global equities, directing allocations across more than $85B in active and passive strategies.

Earlier in her career, she worked in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, advising corporate clients in the healthcare sector on capital strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and financing solutions. Romano holds Bachelor of Science degrees in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and in finance from the Wharton School.

For 2026, Romano is prioritizing expanded implementation of portable alpha and risk-mitigating strategies to enhance diversification and resilience across the portfolio.