MSCI’s chief research officer, Ashley Lester, has been confirmed as a speaker at FundsTech Forum 2025 to be held in London on April 29.
As asset managers face increasingly complex markets, research plays a critical role in identifying emerging risks, uncovering new opportunities and informing strategic decisions. Lester will offer insights into the role of research and analytics in driving forward-looking investment strategies and technological transformation across the asset management industry.
He is currently responsible for leading the development of MSCI’s global research, encompassing support tools and the service provider’s broad range of products and clients within the global investment community.
See full FundsTech Forum 2025 agenda here
In his role, Lester works closely with MSCI’s product, client coverage, technology and marketing teams to ensure the continued development of innovative research, analysis, and solutions. He is also a member of MSCI’s executive and management committees.
Lester brings over a decade of experience in business leadership, investment management and multi-asset class investment research. Most recently, he served as the founding head of systematic investments at Schroders plc in London, where he led a team managing over $20 billion in equity factor and ESG strategies.
He also served in Schroders’ multi-asset investment group as head of multi-asset research. Before Schroders, Lester held roles at MSCI as head of fixed income and multi-asset class research and at Morgan Stanley as managing director and head of market risk analytics.
Earlier in his career, he was an assistant professor of economics at Columbia Business School and Brown University, and a graduate economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Lester holds a bachelor of economics from The University of Sydney, where he was awarded the University Medal, and a PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Got a question for Ashley? Please email: [email protected]
