Morningstar Executive and Leadership Team

Michael Holt, the Chief Financial Officer at Morningstar, manages the firm's fiscal health, capital allocation, and long-term financial planning. Holt oversees the reporting processes that provide transparency to shareholders while ensuring the company maintains the resources required for continuous innovation in investment research. The Chief Financial Officer directs the budgeting and forecasting functions that support the expansion of digital platforms and data services. By analyzing market trends and internal performance metrics, Michael Holt guides the executive team in making data-driven decisions that maximize shareholder value. This role involves maintaining strong relationships with institutional investors and regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and financial stability. Through disciplined cost management and strategic investment in core business areas, the Chief Financial Officer sustains the firm's growth trajectory. Holt secures the financial foundation that allows the organization to deliver high-quality, independent ratings and analytics to financial professionals worldwide.

Frannie Besztery, the Chief Operating Officer, Direct Platform at Morningstar, manages the day-to-day execution and service delivery for the company's digital investment platforms. Besztery oversees the operational teams responsible for maintaining platform stability and customer support excellence. The Chief Operating Officer, Direct Platform drives the implementation of processes that improve user satisfaction and retention across the firm's software offerings. This leadership role involves working closely with product and technology departments to ensure that service delivery aligns with strategic growth objectives. Frannie Besztery optimizes resource allocation to support the expansion of digital services into new markets. By focusing on operational efficiency and service quality, the Chief Operating Officer, Direct Platform ensures that individual investors receive consistent, high-value support. Besztery maintains a sharp focus on the scalability of the platform business, ensuring that the firm continues to provide reliable, independent financial tools to a growing global audience.

Brock Johnson, the President, Retirement Solutions at Morningstar, leads the division dedicated to providing investment management and advisory services for retirement plans. Johnson oversees the development of solutions that help individuals and institutions achieve long-term financial security. The President, Retirement Solutions drives the strategy for expanding the firm's reach within the retirement market, focusing on innovative software and managed account services. This leadership role involves collaborating with asset managers and plan sponsors to deliver high-quality investment outcomes. Brock Johnson manages the teams responsible for research, product design, and client service within the retirement sector. By leveraging the firm's deep expertise in data and analytics, the President, Retirement Solutions enhances the effectiveness of retirement planning tools. Johnson ensures that the division remains aligned with the company's core mission of empowering investor success, providing the guidance and resources necessary for individuals to navigate the complexities of retirement planning with confidence.

Laura Kohl, the Chief Information Officer at Morningstar, directs the global technology infrastructure supporting the firm's extensive financial data and research platforms. Kohl oversees the integration of secure, scalable systems that process vast quantities of investment information for institutional and individual clients. By modernizing digital architecture, the Chief Information Officer ensures high availability for critical APIs and software services. This leadership role involves collaborating with product teams to enhance data delivery speed and reliability across international markets. Laura Kohl maintains rigorous cybersecurity standards to protect sensitive financial intelligence. Through the implementation of advanced cloud solutions, the Chief Information Officer optimizes operational efficiency, allowing the firm to maintain a competitive edge in the investment research industry. Ultimately, Kohl drives the technological evolution necessary to support the company's mission of providing transparent, independent financial insights to a diverse global user base.

Kristen Kanka, the Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Head of Direct Platform Business Unit at Morningstar, architects the brand strategy and growth initiatives for the company's digital platforms. Kanka oversees the marketing campaigns that connect individual investors and financial advisors with essential research tools and software solutions. As the leader of the Direct Platform business unit, the Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Head of Direct Platform Business Unit drives user acquisition and engagement through targeted digital outreach. This role involves aligning product messaging with the evolving needs of the investment community to ensure maximum market penetration. Kristen Kanka manages cross-functional teams to deliver seamless user experiences that reinforce the firm's reputation for independence and accuracy. By leveraging data-driven insights, the Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Head of Direct Platform Business Unit optimizes conversion funnels and expands the reach of the company's proprietary investment management solutions across diverse geographic regions.

Adam Wheat, the Chief Technology Officer, Direct Platform at Morningstar, engineers the software capabilities and digital tools that define the user experience for individual investors and financial professionals. Wheat oversees the development lifecycle of the firm's direct-to-consumer platforms, ensuring that all software solutions remain intuitive, fast, and reliable. The Chief Technology Officer, Direct Platform drives the implementation of new features that integrate complex financial data into actionable insights for end-users. This leadership role involves coordinating with engineering teams to maintain high standards of code quality and system performance. Adam Wheat focuses on building scalable architecture that supports the rapid growth of the company's digital services. By prioritizing innovation in user interface design and backend functionality, the Chief Technology Officer, Direct Platform enhances the accessibility of investment research. Wheat ensures that the firm's technology stack remains at the forefront of the financial services industry, supporting the company's commitment to empowering investors.

Joan Schaper, the Operations, Morningstar Sustainalytics Chief of Staff at Morningstar, coordinates the strategic initiatives and operational workflows within the sustainability research division. Schaper oversees the alignment of internal processes with the firm's broader goals for ESG data and investment management solutions. The Operations, Morningstar Sustainalytics Chief of Staff facilitates communication between leadership teams to ensure that research methodologies and data delivery remain consistent with global standards. This role involves managing complex projects that enhance the efficiency of sustainability reporting and analytics. Joan Schaper drives the execution of operational improvements that allow the division to scale its research capabilities effectively. By streamlining administrative and functional tasks, the Operations, Morningstar Sustainalytics Chief of Staff supports the firm's mission to provide high-quality, independent sustainability insights. Schaper ensures that the organization maintains its position as a leader in the ESG space by fostering collaboration and operational excellence across all research teams.

Sumair Pervaiz, the Group Chief Technology Officer, Morningstar Indexes & Sustainalytics at Morningstar, directs the technical strategy for the firm's index and sustainability data businesses. Pervaiz oversees the development of robust data processing engines that power the company's proprietary ratings and index products. The Group Chief Technology Officer, Morningstar Indexes & Sustainalytics drives the integration of advanced analytics and machine learning to enhance the accuracy and depth of financial research. This role involves leading engineering teams to build secure, high-performance systems that handle massive datasets for institutional clients. Sumair Pervaiz ensures that the technology infrastructure supports the rigorous demands of index calculation and ESG analysis. By fostering innovation in data science, the Group Chief Technology Officer, Morningstar Indexes & Sustainalytics enables the firm to deliver market-leading insights. Pervaiz maintains the technical integrity of the company's research products, supporting the firm's mission to provide transparent and independent financial data.

Kathleen Peacock, the Chief Legal Officer at Morningstar, manages the firm's legal affairs, regulatory compliance, and corporate governance. Peacock oversees the legal teams that protect the company's intellectual property and ensure adherence to international financial regulations. The Chief Legal Officer directs the strategy for navigating complex legal landscapes across the various jurisdictions where the firm operates. This role involves providing counsel to the executive team and the Board on risk management, contractual obligations, and corporate policy. Kathleen Peacock ensures that all research, data services, and software solutions meet the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct. By proactively addressing regulatory changes, the Chief Legal Officer safeguards the firm's reputation for independence and integrity. Peacock facilitates the legal framework necessary for the company to expand its global footprint while maintaining strict compliance with industry standards. Ultimately, the Chief Legal Officer supports the firm's mission by mitigating risk and ensuring operational stability.