Christopher Vella, CFA

Christopher Vella is the Chief Investment Officer of BNY Advisors. In this role, he is responsible for developing investment solutions for clients and integrating portfolio management, investment strategy and manager research expertise in key client segments. Investor segments include retirement plans, endowments, foundations, family offices and financial intermediaries.

Chris joined BNY from Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM) where he spent 20 years, most recently as Chief Investment Officer of Multi-Manager Solutions with responsibility for investment strategy, manager selection and portfolio construction for institutions and family offices.

During his tenure at NTAM, Chris chaired the Investment Oversight Committee and was a voting member of the Investment Policy Committee which directs all strategic and tactical asset allocation decisions at the firm. He was instrumental in developing a Diversity & Inclusion framework for evaluating managers, creating an enhanced framework for ESG analysis incorporated into all manager research, and establishing a real asset investment team, with more than $4 billion in assets. Prior to Northern Trust, Chris was one of the founding members of the external manager research team and led the international equity global manager strategies team at Goldman Sachs.

Chris earned his undergraduate degree from Lehigh University with a BS in Finance. He is a CFA Charterholderand a member of the CFA Institute. Chris is also a Board member of The Children’s Village endowment. Founded in 1851, The Children’s Village is dedicated to providingeducation and a safe environment for children and families in need.