CFA Institute

CFA Institute’s mission is to lead the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. For more than 75 years, employees and volunteers at CFA Institute have pursued this mission with diligence. The organization’s commitment to this purpose, supported by advocacy and professional standards, has positioned CFA Institute as a trusted global entity and the CFA Program as the gold standard credential in the investment industry. Today, CFA Institute has a global presence in 160+ markets, with 200,000+ members, 155+ local societies, and its GIPS Standards are used by more than 80 of the top 100 asset managers.

CFA Institute understands that the flow of financial capital underpins the global economy and the long-term health of society, and the returns from invested capital fuel economic growth and prosperity for billions around the world. Investment professionals understand that finance is both a force for good and profit. Standing alongside these professionals around the world, CFA Institute carries out work in four areas, as outlined below:

Learning

We turn learning into leading

CFA Institute’s learning programs provide everyone, regardless of education or background, with the opportunity to learn new skills when they want, to forge their own career path, and to shape and lead the industry.

Standards

We turn principles into practice

CFA Institute’s standards provide ethical benchmarks for the industry. They protect investors, markets, and society and ensure investment professionals have frameworks to guide their decisions.

Membership

We turn networks into connections

CFA Institute’s global community of over 200,000 members in 160 markets represents an incredibly powerful resource for meaningful professional growth and collaboration.

Research

We turn complexity into clarity

CFA Institute’s world-class research helps the industry make sense of highly complex topics and, crucially, what those changes mean for clients and financial organizations.

Key Facts

• 200,000+ charterholders
• 155+ active CFA societies
• 850+ affiliated universities
• $416 million in revenue (FY25)
• 600 staff

Position Summary

CFA Institute shapes the future of the investment industry and profession by providing a clear, unbiased, and authoritative voice on investment practices and outcomes. In order to continue to evolve and grow the CFA Program globally, the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will balance stewardship of the CFA charter with expansion into adjacent offerings, translating strategy into measurable impact while preserving the distinctiveness of the CFA charter in an increasingly competitive and technology- and AI-disrupted landscape. The new CEO will diversify CFA Institute’s portfolio of learning products and grow its membership, while bolstering its global status as a trusted authority. The next CEO will drive success, unify and energize the organization internally, develop and align CFA Institute’s financial, operational, technological, and human resources, and engage stakeholders globally to secure its continued impact.

The CEO role can be based in Charlottesville, New York City or London.

Key Relationships

Reports to
Board of Governors

Direct reports
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
Chief People Officer
Chief Information Officer and Managing Director, Technology and AI Solutions
Managing Director, Education
Managing Director, Global Partnerships & Client Solutions
Managing Director, Institutional Solutions
Managing Director, Research & Policy Center

Other key relationships
Global CFA Society Leadership
Global CFA Member Community
Governmental/Regulatory Agencies
Trade and Financial Media
Academics
Key Industry Leaders

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Establish clarity and alignment with the Board of Governors and staff around CFA Institute's strategic plan and vision, ensuring financial sustainability and advancing the organization’s distinction.
• Effectively steward and promote public awareness and other initiatives that promote the CFA charter around the world.
• Continue to strengthen the core CFA Program, but also diversify CFA Institute's portfolio of learning products, focusing on job-relevant, skills-based learning.
• Oversee the development of onboarding and upskilling B2B offerings which serve employer needs.
• Anticipate how industry changes in technology and AI affect the profession and translate that into product and service strategies.
• Enhance, refine, and rebuild existing products and offerings to be customer-centric, ensuring they reach their intended customer base and can be translated and tailored to local markets.

Growth and Retention

• Evolve and grow the CFA Program, ensuring its relevance and extending its reach to increase market penetration and membership across the globe.
• Protect the competitiveness of the CFA charter relative to other credentials and providers.
• Improve global member retention and satisfaction by delivering improved value to members.
• Increase brand awareness of CFA Institute and membership support from top global asset management firms.
• Strengthen the certification pipeline through market-attuned products and employer relevance.
• Play a visible role in addressing industry-wide workforce challenges.

Standards and Public Advocacy

• Uphold and enforce the highest competency and ethical standards of CFA Institute credentials and certificates.
• Lead CFA Institute's advocacy efforts, representing the profession’s interests in public policy matters.
• Strengthen compliance with regulatory and other relevant public-company standards.
• Effectively articulate the continuing relevance of CFA Institute and the CFA Program in a changing market.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Effectively partner with the Board of Governors, ensuring strong communication and alignment.
• Strengthen the relationships between global leadership and local societies, maintaining consistent worldwide standards while enabling locally relevant offerings and community engagement.
• Engage effectively with all global stakeholders including CFA charterholders, CIPM and other certificants, investors, large financial firms, regulators, standards-setters, and policymakers, to build trust, foster collaboration and raise CFA Institute's visibility and stature.

Organizational Culture and Talent

• Ensure key skill sets, expertise, and ways of working are in place.
• Cultivate an internal culture of communication, collaboration, and transparency, uniting a globally distributed team.
• Promote staff stability, career development, and an environment that attracts and retains top talent.
• Preserve, recognize, and enhance CFA Institute’s unique culture of volunteerism, engaging and cultivating its base of volunteers.

Innovation and Future-Proofing

• Evaluate and overhaul internal processes, systems, and technological infrastructure to enable the delivery of CFA Institute's evolving suite of products and programs, and to support its ongoing growth and development.
• Be alert to strategic disruptors of the profession, particularly related to technology and AI, and ensure CFA Institute remains ahead of competitive and technological shifts.

Candidate Profile

The CEO will be a bold, entrepreneurial executive with a demonstrated ability to lead complex organizations and cultivate high-impact relationships at scale. This individual will bring clarity and cohesion to global contexts, combining intellectual agility with sound judgment and demonstrating the ability to synthesize diverse perspectives. A builder and executor, the CEO will unify teams, leading with gravitas and energy as they amplify CFA Institute’s global brand.

This leader will be an expert relationship-builder, exercising influence through credibility and trust. Resilient, adaptable, and motivated by CFA Institute's core mission, the CEO will model integrity and responsibility while advancing CFA Institute's profile thoughtfully and with lasting impact.

Ideal Experience

15+ years of C-suite or executive-level management

Strong business acumen and experience leading and managing a complex organization, preferably on a global basis or in a global context.

Relevant sector exposure

Deep leadership experience in investment management / financial services, in the association space, or in the education / educational technology / certification area.

Proven relational expertise

Internal and external stakeholder management and relationship-building skills are essential, so experience as a spokesperson, representing an organization or industry before a variety of audiences is preferred.

Track record of growth and impact

Has developed and implemented innovative strategies and programs that further the mission of and/or grow an organization.

Academic and professional credentials

Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree and CFA charter strongly preferred.

Critical Leadership Capabilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision

The CEO will provide the leadership necessary to advance the organization’s work while also partnering with the board and staff to develop strategy by:

• Developing and effectively communicating business plans to achieve organizational objectives, as well as identifying resources, anticipating obstacles, assessing risks and making adjustments as appropriate;
• Collaborating with the Board of Governors to define and execute a long-range strategy that enhances CFA Institute’s value proposition and competitive position;
• Remaining alert and proactively responsive to shifts in the external landscape, particularly with regard to technology and AI, that may prompt the Institute to adjust its offerings or plans; and
• Enhancing CFA Institute’s reputation and profile and serving as its emissary through a matrix of thoughtfully curated and meticulously cultivated relationships across sectors and geographies.

Connecting and Convening

The CEO will be an effective, inspirational and persuasive spokesperson and chief advocate for the organization and for the ethics and standards of the investment profession by:

• Clearly articulating CFA Institute’s vision and value proposition to key stakeholder groups and the public and serving as the consistent and credible face and voice of the organization;
• Driving CFA Institute's overall communications strategy, using all of the available tools and resources to effectively represent and advance its messages and appropriately position its mission and goals;
• Leveraging an effective, adaptable communication style, rooted in trust and tailored to different interests, objectives, and concerns and demonstrating an inclusive and collaborative manner; and
• Defending and advocating for the CFA designation and serving as the consummate educator on CFA Institute's role and services.

Operationalizing Strategy & Driving Results

The CEO will implement strong management procedures and ensure the successful operation and results of CFA Institute by:

• Assessing CFA Institute’s programs and services and identifying areas for growth, improvement and change;
• Championing a philosophy and agility to identify and resolve problems and issues likely to impact organizational priorities; Recruiting, retaining, enabling and empowering top-notch talent to implement CFA Institute's strategic objectives, fostering a culture of excellence, service and teamwork;
• Maintaining strong controls and risk awareness across the organization and;
• Leveraging technology and operations practices throughout the organization to enhance efficiencies and create a culture that demands excellence, accountability, and performance measurement.

Other Personal Characteristics

• Unquestionable integrity, honesty, and trustworthiness.
• Passionate about the mission of CFA Institute.
• Global mindset.
• Balances collegiality with performance.

Search Process

The executive search firm Spencer Stuart has been retained exclusively by CFA Institute to assist in this recruitment. Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited and should be submitted directly to CFAInstituteCEO@SpencerStuart.com . The review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Compensation

At CFA Institute, we are committed to transparency and equity in our hiring process. In compliance with wage transparency laws in many of the jurisdictions in which we recruit, we provide the following information regarding compensation for this position:

The base salary range for this position is $500,000 to $700,000, with final determination of total compensation made after consideration of qualifications and experience.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees, including health coverage, generous time off, competitive retirement plans, flexible work options, and wellbeing and development programs. You can learn more on our careers site: Working at CFA Institute | Comprehensive Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees, including health coverage, generous time off, competitive retirement plans, flexible work options, and wellbeing and development programs. You can learn more on our careers site: Working at CFA Institute | Comprehensive Benefits

About CFA Institute

CFA Institute is the global leader in investment excellence and ethics. With nearly 200,000 charterholders across 160 markets, we promote professional growth, uphold ethical standards, and help advance better financial markets. Join a global organization committed to putting investors first.

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Important Message: Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements as CFA Institute cannot make assumptions about your education, experience, or location. We thank all those who apply.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. CFA Institute prohibits both discrimination and harassment with regard to all identifying characteristics: any individual employee, group of employees, or prospective employee on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, religion, creed or belief, age, marital or partnership status, marital or family status, care giver status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, physical abilities/qualities, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, predisposing genetic characteristic, military or veteran status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence or sex offense or stalking, unemployment status, infectious disease carrier status, migrant worker status, educational background, socio-economic status, geographic location and culture or any other basis protected by applicable law. This policy impacts all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, development, promotion, demotion, layoff, recall, furlough, transfer, leave of absence, and dismissal. This is a global policy that applies to all CFA Institute employees, regardless of location.

If, due to a disability or current medical condition, you need an accommodation or assistance to complete a job application, you can request one at any stage of the recruitment process. Please send an email to TAHelpdesk@cfainstitute.org noting the accommodations or assistance you are requesting. Please do not include any medical or health information in this email. We will review your request and contact you to discuss the possible options and arrangements. We will try our best to provide you with an accommodation or assistance that meets your needs and respects your preferences.