The Investment Association (IA), the industry group for the UK’s asset management sector, has appointed Ann Prendergast, executive vice president and head of Emea at State Street Investment Management, as chair of its board of directors.
She will take up the role on September 17, 2025 following the association’s annual general meeting.
Prendergast succeeds Patrick Thomson, CEO, EMEA at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, who has chaired the board for the past three years.
Prendergast will lead the board in “championing the investment management industry and highlighting its contribution to driving economic growth and strengthening financial resilience for households across the UK”, stated the IA.
She joined the IA board in May 2024 and brings over three decades of experience in investment management.
The IA board includes senior leaders from across the sector and plays a key role in guiding the industry through an increasingly complex investment and regulatory landscape.
Prendergast commented: “The role the investment management industry can play in delivering the UK’s growth agenda has never been more apparent, and I am delighted to have been selected as chair of the IA’s board at this pivotal moment. Our collective voice will be crucial in furthering the productive partnership between government and regulator, ensuring the UK is a highly attractive location both to invest in and from, and driving the best outcomes for savers across the country. I look forward to working closely with my fellow Board Members, Chris Cummings and everyone at the IA to champion our industry.”
Thomson said: “It has been an immense privilege to lead the IA Board and work alongside such an impressive group of industry leaders. During my three-year tenure, I’ve seen significant change as the industry recovered from the impact of the pandemic, responded to remarkable technological advances and evolved to meet changing investor demands. I have been proud to play my part in steering the industry through these unprecedented times, in particular our successful call for the Financial Conduct Authority to embrace a growth and competitiveness agenda.”
Chris Cummings, chief executive of the IA, added: “I am delighted to welcome Ann Prendergast as Chair of the Investment Association Board. Ann’s extensive experience, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to our industry make her exceptionally well-suited to lead us through this pivotal period. Her deep understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing investment management, combined with her proven track record of championing innovation and diversity, ensures she will be a powerful advocate for our members and the savers we serve across the UK. I would also like to extend my thanks to Patrick Thomson for his three years as IA chair. Patrick has been a true advocate for, and leader, of the industry during his tenure.”
