Hightree Advisors appoints Lisa Laird as new Principal
Independent institutional investment consultancy Hightree Advisors has hired investment industry veteran Lisa Laird as a Principal. Laird will serve as a Senior Adviser, bringing nearly two decades of experience to the role.
“We are incredibly fortunate that Lisa has joined the Hightree team,” said Karyn Williams, founder and Managing Principal of Hightree Advisors. “Importantly, she shares our view that improved governance and improved risk decisions empower organisations to better serve their investment purposes. Lisa was among the first practitioners to encourage my risk management consulting practice and has first-hand knowledge of how we are redefining the way investors understand risk choices. Our clients will benefit greatly from Lisa’s experience, insights, and industry relationships.”
Founded in late 2019, Hightree Advisors is an independent investment consultancy helping organisations improve their investment effectiveness. The firm’s broad range of services span the investment lifecycle and our work results in independent, actionable recommendations and decision information, including assistance with governance, risk allocation, evaluation and search, reporting, and education.
Laird brings to Hightree nearly 20 years of experience in institutional investing as a chief investment officer, consultant, and trustee. Most recently, she served as chief investment officer at Providence St Joseph Health (PSJH), overseeing the organisation’s operating, insurance and retirement assets, totalling more than $18 billion. Prior to joining St Joseph Health in 2011, Laird held senior level positions at Towers Watson Investment Services and Wilshire Associates.
A Chartered Financial Analyst since 2005, Laird holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and is currently Treasurer of the board of directors for the Seva Foundation – a group helping to restore vision for nearly five million people worldwide – a role she will maintain alongside her work with Hightree. She will now help Hightree with client education and consulting, industry engagement, and research and development.
Commenting on her new role, Laird said, “Fiduciaries need a less abstract way to make risk decisions. What Karyn has created is a potential game changer and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to help move the ball forward.”