Overview
Following our ‘Path to CIO’ event in 2024, join industry experts and continue the conversation for our first Bloomberg Women’s Buy-side Network (BWBN) flagship of 2025, ‘A Path to Winning Strategies’.
Our inspirational panellists, Cassie Waller, CEO at Santander Asset Management, UK and one of our BWBN co-founders, Leah M Parento, Head of Emerging Market Corporate Debt at JPMorgan Asset Management and Kelly Prior, Investment Director at Malborough—will share valuable perspectives and actionable strategies to help you thrive in today’s dynamic financial landscape – whether you’re looking to manage successful mandates or advance in your career. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, elevate your expertise and connect with like-minded peers.
The evening will conclude with a curated wine tasting and networking session, because success is best shared over great conversation and a glass of wine. Non-alcoholic options also available.
Register now to secure your spot.
Agenda
- 17:00 – 17:30
Registration
- 17:30 – 18:15
In conversation with our panellists
- 18:15 – 20:00
Wine tasting & networking reception
Speakers
Cassie Waller
Cassie Waller joined Santander Asset Management UK as Chief Commercial Officer in February 2023, earning promotion to the role of Chief Executive Officer in May 2024.
Cassie joined Santander Asset Management from Syntax Research Inc, where she was Chief Operating Officer. She also held the role of Chief Marketing Officer based in Florida, as well as a number of senior roles in State Street Bank Europe and State Street Global Markets, with responsibility for consultant relationships and portfolio solutions sales. Roles at Putnam Investments, Friends, Ivory & Sime and Wellington Management saw her gather a wealth of experience across a diverse range of disciplines.
A forward-thinking senior executive with a proven record of accomplishment during her 25-year career, Cassie is a driven and ambitious business leader, dedicated to continuous business improvement, with a focus on enhancing revenue and streamlining business operations. Cassie has been successful in executing successful investment sales strategies, establishing winning teams and forging strong industry and internal partnerships.
Cassie Waller holds a degree in International Politics, Communications and Marketing from Boston College. She is committed to diversity and inclusion, supporting women in business through a number of industry initiatives.
Leah M Parento
Leah M Parento, executive director, is a member of the Global Fixed Income, Currency & Commodities (GFICC) group. Based in London, Leah is the lead portfolio manager and head of the Emerging Market Corporate Debt Team. Prior to joining the firm, Leah was on the EMCD portfolio management team at Ninety One (formerly Investec Asset Management). She was a member, both in the research and portfolio management functions, of the Emerging Market Corporate Debt team since inception in 2011. Prior to helping with the setup of the EMCD team, Leah was a research analyst within the developed market corporate debt team. Before joining Ninety One, she was with Royal Bank of Scotland as both a local markets trading analyst preceded by a role as a proprietary trader within the Principal Strategies Group. Leah’s financial markets career began at Barclays Capital as a developed market investment grade credit analyst, before which she worked in New York City as an engineer designing water treatment plants for the greater New York area. Leah holds an MBA from London Business School, a Master in Environmental Engineering from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Vermont.
Kelly Prior
Kelly Prior is Investment Director at Marlborough. Her role in the Chief Investment Officer’s team involves working closely with investment managers, helping to shape the group’s award-winning product range and develop new investment propositions. She is also involved in oversight and governance across the wider group.
Kelly, who has more than 30 years’ investment experience, joined Marlborough in January 2025. She previously spent 14 years at Columbia Threadneedle, where, as a senior investment manager, she helped grow assets in the multi-manager fund range to more than £3 billion. Her career also includes fund management roles at Thames River, Credit Suisse and Rothschild Asset Management.