GW&K Investment Management Expands Municipal Bond Team
BOSTON, MA – February 1, 2022 – GW&K Investment Management (GW&K), an entrepreneurial-driven investment management firm offering active equity and fixed-income investment solutions to meet the needs of a diverse client base, today announced that it is expanding its municipal bond team with the hiring of Kara South as Principal and Portfolio Manager. She is based in the firm’s Boston headquarters.
South, who is also a member of the firm’s Investment Committee, will participate in the portfolio management of all the firm’s municipal bond strategies. A seasoned fixed income manager with deep knowledge of the market, including experience managing taxable municipal bonds and ESG strategies, she will be able to draw on her extensive research and management expertise in the evaluation of market risks, opportunities and strategic portfolio positioning.
South joins a team of 15 municipal bond investment professionals who average 19 years at the firm and 23 years investment experience. She will report to Nancy Angell and John Fox, Co-Directors of Fixed Income at the firm.
“We see Kara’s hiring as particularly strategic as our muni bond assets grow and the business expands,” said Harold Kotler, a founding partner, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer of GW&K. “Not only does Kara bring exceptional experience, but we believe she is also a great cultural fit. It’s the unique culture at GW&K that attracts superb talent and has led to the long-term stability and performance that our clients have come to count on.”
South joins GW&K from Income Research + Management (IR+M), where she was a Senior Portfolio Manager and Co-Director of Credit Research and a member of the Investment Committee. Before joining IR+M, she was a Securities Valuation Analyst at John Hancock Financial. She began her career at Wachovia Corporation (now Wells Fargo), where she was an Interest Rate Derivative Analyst.
South earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Psychology from Cornell University and is a CFA® Charterholder.
About GW&K Investment Management
GW&K was founded in 1974 to offer innovative investment solutions consistent with its clients’ objectives. Through the years, the firm has successfully introduced a range of equity and fixed income strategies, all of which are actively managed, research-driven and guided by a clear and disciplined investment process. Today, GW&K manages 32 distinct strategies for a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, public funds, endowments, foundations and financial institutions. As of the end of December 2021, GW&K had $55 billion in assets under management.
