Authors & Contributors

Derek W. Beane, CFA, is an investment officer and institutional portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). He is a member of the portfolio management team of the strategies he supports and participates in the research process and strategy discussions, assesses portfolio risk, and communicates investment policy, strategy and positioning to clients. Derek joined MFS in 2014 as a director -- investment product specialist. He worked closely with the portfolio management teams and was responsible for communicating our investment philosophy, process and positioning and for providing investment perspective to financial advisors and our sales force and relationship managers. Before joining the firm, he spent seven years at John Hancock Investments as a portfolio specialist and director -- senior investment analyst. In this role he served as a fund expert, articulating fund philosophy, process and positioning to the board and internal and external constituents. Before that, he worked for five years as an investment research analyst and financial analyst at Fidelity Investments. Derek earned a bachelor's degree from Clemson University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Boston College's Carroll School of Management. He is a CFA charter holder and a member of the CFA Society Boston.

Erik S. Weisman, Ph.D., is an investment officer, chief economist and fixed income portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). As chief economist, he provides a broad-based view of major economic trends impacting financial markets and economic policy, serving as a thought leader for MFS clients and the firm's investment team as well as in the media. He manages the firm's US and global inflation-adjusted, global total return and global government strategies and chairs both the Fixed Income Strategy Group and the Global Rates and Currency Group. He is also a member of the Risk Opportunities Group and the Macro-Micro Group. Erik joined the firm in 2002 as a global sovereign fixed income research analyst. He assumed portfolio management responsibilities in 2003 and was named chief economist in 2015. Previously, he served for two years as assistant to the US executive director of the International Monetary Fund and for two years as an international economist in the Office of Central and Eastern Europe of the US Department of the Treasury. Erik earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in economics from Duke University.

Kate Mead, CFA, is an investment officer and institutional equity portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). In this role, she participates in the research process and in strategy discussions, communicates investment policy, strategy and positioning, customizes portfolios to client objectives and guidelines and manages daily cash flows. In addition, Kate is a member of the firm's IPM Global Leadership team, which includes oversight of the North American Equity IPM team. Kate joined MFS in 1997 as an equity research analyst specializing in global auto and auto parts, medical devices, telecom and networking, and US regional banks. She assumed her current role in 2002. Prior to joining the firm, she spent two years as a financial analyst for Coopers & Lybrand. Kate earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Villanova University, graduating magna cum laude, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst certification and is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society.

Madeline Forrester is a senior managing director of MFS International (U.K.) Ltd. and head of global consultant relations for MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). In her role, she manages a global team that looks after the relationships between MFS and the largest global consultants. She is based in London. Maddi joined MFS in 2014 as head of UK institutional business and assumed her current role in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, she oversaw the UK institutional business for AXA Investment Managers. Before that, she spent 16 years at Threadneedle Asset Management, where she served in a number of roles, including head of global institutional business, head of UK distribution, fixed income specialist, head of insurance asset management and fixed income portfolio manager. Earlier in her career, she worked as a fund manager for J.P. Morgan and as a fixed income sales professional for UBS. Maddi earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Oxford. She is the Chair of Council of the Pensions Policy Institute and a steering committee member of the Diversity Project.

Mahesh Jayakumar, CFA, FRM, is a fixed income research analyst focusing on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). In this role, he works collaboratively across the investment department to integrate ESG considerations into MFS' overall fixed income research process, working with analysts and portfolio managers to broaden and deepen their understanding of the impact sustainability factors may have on investment outcomes. He is a member of the working groups that guide the firm's ESG investment strategy and assess global collaborative initiatives and partnerships. Mahesh joined MFS in 2019 in his current role following a year as a senior portfolio manager at Oppenheimer Funds. He previously worked for State Street Global Advisors for ten years, where he was involved with several ESG- and sustainability-related initiatives. During his tenure at SSGA, he worked as a senior portfolio manager for nine years, transitioning to a senior ESG investment strategist role in his final year with the firm. He began his career in the financial services industry in 2008. Mahesh earned a Bachelor of Science degree in computer information systems from Purdue University, a Master of Science degree in computer science from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration degree in business and finance from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He holds both the Chartered Financial Analyst and Financial Risk Manager designations and is a member of the CFA Institute, CFA Society Boston, CFA Society New York, Fixed Income Analysts Society and Global Association of Risk Professionals.

Owen Murfin, CFA, is an investment officer and institutional fixed income portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). He is a member of the MFS Global Fixed Income portfolio management team. In this capacity, he participates in portfolio strategy discussions, customizes portfolios to client objectives and guidelines and communicates portfolio investment strategy and positioning. He is based in London.

Prior to joining MFS in 2017, Owen served as managing director and global fixed income portfolio manager at BlackRock for 15 years. Before that, he worked as an associate and global fixed income portfolio manager at Goldman Sachs Asset Management for five years.

Owen earned Bachelor of Science degree with first class honors from University College London. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Our portfolio managers are supported by our entire team of investment professionals in nine worldwide offices. The team employs a proprietary investment process to build better insights for our clients. The core principles of our approach are integrated research, global collaboration and active risk management.

Robert M. Hall is an investment officer and institutional fixed income portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). In this role, he participates in the research process and strategy discussions, customizes portfolios to meet client objectives and communicates the portfolios' investment policy, strategy, and tactics. Robert has served in a variety of roles since joining MFS in 1994, including institutional marketing and client service. From 2000 to 2009, he was the product specialist for the firm's Luxembourg-registered SICAV funds, covering both equity and fixed income strategies. Since 2009, he has been part of the fixed income investment team, working on a wide range of strategies. His current focus is US multisector. Robert earned a bachelor's degree from Gordon College and a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Robert M. Wilson, Jr. is an environmental, social and governance research analyst at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). As the first to fill this role at MFS, he was responsible for the initial development and execution of our global equity and fixed income ESG investment integration strategy. Working with analysts and portfolio managers, Rob spends most of his time developing bottom-up, security-specific research aimed at modeling and valuing ESG risks and opportunities. He also produces action-oriented thematic research covering topics such as corporate taxation, income inequality, fixed income governance analysis and technology ethics. Rob is a member of the firm's ESG and proxy voting related--committees and sits on our impact investment steering group. More recently, Rob has spearheaded our ESG data and systems integration work. He has overseen the development of our platform that captures MFS proprietary engagement insights and has managed the roll out of ESG data to the broader investment team. Outside of his investment work, Rob engages with clients and consultants globally, develops thought leadership content, presents at conferences and collaborates with outside organizations such as the PRI, sharing MFS' research-based insights. Rob joined MFS in 2013 after six years with American Century, where he most recently served as a senior equity analyst. Previously, he spent five years at Bain & Company, working as a manager in the Financial Planning and Analysis group. Rob earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago.

Robert M. Almeida Jr. is an investment officer and global investment strategist for MFS Investment Management® (MFS®), offering insight and perspective on cyclical and secular trends impacting investors. He also serves as a member of the portfolio management teams for multiasset income and alternative strategies. Rob joined MFS in 1999 and served as an institutional portfolio manager for the Fixed Income Department from 2007 through 2009. He joined the US Growth Equity team in 2009 and became a portfolio manager in 2014. He added additional portfolio management responsibilities in 2018 and assumed his current strategist title in 2019. Rob is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and earned his Master of Science degree in finance from Sawyer Business School.

Vishal Hindocha, CFA, is senior vice president and the global head of the strategy and insights group at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). In his role, he works with clients and stakeholders around the world to provide insights on and develop solutions related to investment trends and best practices. Vishal joined MFS in 2016 as a director on the client relations and consultant relations teams before taking on the role of senior managing director and global head of sustainability strategy in 2019. He became the global head of the investment solutions group in 2022 prior to assuming his current position in 2024. Previously, he worked as a senior investment consultant and team leader at Willis Towers Watson for more than nine years. Vishal earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from UCL. He is a CFA charterholder and also holds certificates in ESG Investing and Climate and Investing from CFA UK. Additionally, he holds CISL's Certificate in Sustainable Business.

Ward Brown, CFA, Ph.D., is an investment officer and fixed-income portfolio manager at MFS Investment Management® (MFS®). He is a member of the Emerging Markets Debt team, and his management duties include MFS' emerging market debt strategies and institutional accounts in addition to conducting macroeconomic research and individual credit analysis.

Ward joined MFS in 2005 as a fixed-income research analyst and was named portfolio manager in 2008. Prior to joining MFS, he served as an economist for the International Monetary Fund for eight years. Ward spent four years as a research and teaching assistant for the Financial Markets Group at the London School of Economics and Political Science and later served as a lecturer at the school in the Economics Department.

Ward earned his bachelor's degree from McGill University and holds master's and doctoral degrees in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Our portfolio managers are supported by our entire team of investment professionals in nine worldwide offices. The team employs a proprietary investment process to build better insights for our clients. The core principles of our approach are integrated research, global collaboration and active risk management.