JANA nabs Morningstar exec for newly created CIO role

Binaya Dahal

Journalist

4 May 2026

JANA Investment Advisers has tapped former Morningstar executive Matt Wacher to fill a newly created chief investment officer role, designed to unify leadership across firm’s investment strategy, research and sustainability.

Announcing the appointment on Friday, the $1.7 trillion asset consultant said the role brings together oversight of investment outcomes across all client segments and mandates, and forms part of a broader executive restructure under chief executive Georgina Dudley.

At Morningstar, Wacher served as the Asia Pacific CIO and chaired the global investment committee, overseeing about US$15 billion across diversified multi-asset portfolios.

Dudley said the appointment reflects the growing breadth and complexity of client needs across the firm’s 80-plus institutional clients, which includes superannuation, wealth, insurance and not-for-profits.

“JANA has a team with real depth across research, strategy and sustainability, and I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve built,” she said.

“As demand continues to broaden, the work is becoming more multi-dimensional as we support a wider range of client objectives and portfolio needs.”

Wacher has previously held senior investment roles at Qantas Superannuation, Russell Investments and CMC Markets, working across Australia and Japan in multi-asset portfolio construction and institutional investment solutions.

He said it is exciting to join JANA at a time when clients are placing an even greater emphasis on disciplined decision-making and consistent oversight.

“JANA has built strong investment capability grounded in rigorous research and thoughtful portfolio construction,” Wacher said.

“My focus will be to provide leadership across the investment function, build on the depth already in place, and ensure we continue delivering disciplined, long-term outcomes for clients.”