Epoch Investment Partners, Inc., has announced that William Priest will step down as the firm’s CEO effective April 1, 2020. He will become Epoch’s Executive Chairman and will continue to lead the investment team and serve as co-CIO. He will also retain his portfolio management responsibilities, including his lead portfolio manager role with Epoch’s Global Choice and Global Absolute Return strategies.

Philipp Hensler, Epoch’s President and COO, will become the firm’s CEO. Hensler brings to the role extensive leadership experience at asset management firms globally. His earlier background as a portfolio manager has imbued him with an investment-oriented perspective that aligns with Epoch’s investment-centric culture.

“Investing remains my lifelong passion,” said Priest, who helped found Epoch in 2004. “Best practice suggests a separation between the ‘business of investing’ and the ‘business of the investment business.’ This evolution of duties will allow me to focus solely on the former function. I will continue to lead the investment team and focus on our clients’ portfolios.”

To read Epoch’s media release, click here.