The firm is under a new but familiar kind of leadership. Mike Gitlin, previously the head of fixed income and global trading, took over as CEO in October 2023. He replaced Tim Armour, who had been chairman and CEO since 2015. Rob Lovelace, the firm’s vice chair and president, also stepped off the management committee to pave the way for new leadership. Martin Romo and Jody Jonsson, who both head up an investment subsidiary, became chairman and CIO, and vice chair, respectively. Romo, Jonsson, and Lovelace retain their roles as principal investment officer on funds. The transition demonstrated a considered succession plan and a commitment to keeping the leadership team-oriented and investor-heavy.
Meanwhile, the firm has been thoughtful about other changes. Recognizing investor preferences, Capital since early 2022 has launched 14 exchange-traded funds—seven equity, six fixed income, and one allocation. The new funds, branded under the Capital Group name, are distinct from but rhyme with some of the legacy American Funds mutual funds. The firm also launched active-passive models with industry peers that leverage its mutual fund lineup. All these new investment options employ Capital’s time-tested investment philosophy, use its hallmark multimanager system, and draw from its huge pool of seasoned investors.