Morningstar Executive and Leadership Team

Michael Holt, the Chief Financial Officer at Morningstar, directs all global financial operations and capital allocation strategies. Overseeing fiscal planning, Holt ensures the integrity of financial reporting while supporting the expansion of investment research and data services across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. This leadership role involves managing investor relations and optimizing the balance sheet to fuel long-term growth in software platforms and managed portfolio solutions. By aligning capital investments with core business objectives, Michael Holt strengthens the financial foundation necessary for sustained innovation. The Chief Financial Officer maintains rigorous oversight of corporate budgeting and risk management frameworks, ensuring that financial performance remains consistent with the strategic goals of the organization. Through disciplined fiscal management, Holt secures the resources required to maintain market leadership in independent investment research and technology.

Frannie Besztery, the Chief Operating Officer, Direct Platform at Morningstar, manages the operational efficiency and service delivery for the direct-to-investor business unit. Overseeing cross-functional workflows, Besztery drives the execution of software platform enhancements that support individual investors and financial advisors. This leadership role involves streamlining product delivery cycles and improving user engagement metrics across global markets. By optimizing internal processes, Frannie Besztery ensures that the platform remains a reliable source for investment data and managed portfolio solutions. The Chief Operating Officer, Direct Platform coordinates with technology and product teams to scale service capabilities, ensuring that operational output aligns with the broader mission of providing independent research. Through continuous process improvement, Besztery maintains high standards of service quality, directly impacting the growth and retention of the direct platform user base.

Amelia Furr, the President - Index at Morningstar, directs the strategy and growth of the global index business. Overseeing product development and market expansion, Furr ensures that the index offerings provide asset managers and financial advisors with reliable benchmarks for investment performance. This leadership role involves managing relationships with institutional clients and driving the adoption of index-based investment solutions. By leveraging the company's deep data and research capabilities, Amelia Furr enhances the utility and relevance of the index portfolio. The President - Index collaborates with technology and research teams to innovate new index methodologies that address emerging market trends. Through strategic leadership, Furr strengthens the organization's position as a provider of high-quality market benchmarks, ensuring that the index business contributes significantly to the overall growth and impact of the firm.

Brock Johnson, the President, Retirement Solutions at Morningstar, directs the strategy and operational delivery of managed portfolio solutions for retirement plan providers. Overseeing the development of investment advice and retirement planning tools, Johnson ensures that the organization helps individuals achieve long-term financial security. This leadership role involves managing partnerships with plan sponsors and financial institutions to integrate retirement solutions into broader investment programs. By utilizing proprietary research and data, Brock Johnson drives the creation of personalized investment strategies that address the unique needs of retirement savers. The President, Retirement Solutions collaborates with product and technology teams to scale service delivery across diverse markets. Through strategic focus on retirement outcomes, Johnson supports the company's mission of empowering investors, ensuring that the retirement solutions business remains a cornerstone of the firm's value proposition.

Sumair Pervaiz, the Group Chief Technology Officer, Morningstar Indexes & Sustainalytics at Morningstar, architects the technical infrastructure supporting index development and sustainability research. Overseeing the integration of complex data sets, Pervaiz drives the development of scalable software solutions that power ESG analytics and market benchmarks. This leadership role involves aligning technical roadmaps with the evolving needs of asset managers and retirement plan providers. By modernizing data processing capabilities, Sumair Pervaiz ensures that the organization delivers high-quality, actionable insights to global clients. The Group Chief Technology Officer, Morningstar Indexes & Sustainalytics collaborates with research teams to implement advanced analytical tools, enhancing the precision of investment data. Through strategic technology investments, Pervaiz supports the expansion of sustainability-focused products, ensuring that the technical architecture remains robust and capable of handling large-scale financial data requirements.

Joan Schaper, the Operations, Morningstar Sustainalytics Chief of Staff at Morningstar, coordinates strategic initiatives and operational alignment within the sustainability research division. Overseeing internal communications and project management, Schaper ensures that the Sustainalytics team executes research objectives efficiently. This leadership role involves facilitating collaboration between research analysts and product managers to refine ESG data offerings. By streamlining administrative and operational workflows, Joan Schaper supports the delivery of independent research to asset managers and financial advisors. The Operations, Morningstar Sustainalytics Chief of Staff monitors key performance indicators to ensure that research output meets the rigorous standards expected by global investors. Through effective project oversight, Schaper enables the team to focus on producing high-quality sustainability insights, thereby strengthening the market position of the organization in the ESG space.

Kristen Kanka, the Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Head of Direct Platform Business Unit at Morningstar, directs global brand strategy and the growth of the direct-to-investor business segment. Overseeing marketing campaigns and customer acquisition, Kanka ensures that the value proposition of investment research and software platforms reaches target audiences effectively. This leadership role involves managing the end-to-end customer experience for individual investors and financial advisors. By leveraging data-driven insights, Kristen Kanka optimizes marketing spend and enhances brand visibility across international markets. The Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Head of Direct Platform Business Unit aligns product messaging with the core mission of empowering investor success. Through strategic market positioning, Kanka drives user adoption and platform engagement, ensuring that the direct business unit remains a primary growth engine for the company.

Adam Wheat, the Chief Technology Officer, Direct Platform at Morningstar, leads the engineering and software development efforts for the direct-to-investor platform. Overseeing the technical roadmap, Wheat drives the creation of intuitive digital tools that provide individual investors with access to investment data and research. This leadership role involves managing cloud infrastructure and ensuring the security and scalability of the platform. By implementing agile development practices, Adam Wheat accelerates the delivery of new features that enhance the user experience. The Chief Technology Officer, Direct Platform collaborates with product and design teams to ensure that the technology stack supports the evolving needs of the financial advisor and individual investor communities. Through continuous innovation in software architecture, Wheat maintains the platform's competitive edge, ensuring reliable access to critical investment information.

Kathleen Peacock, the Chief Legal Officer at Morningstar, directs all legal, regulatory, and compliance functions across the global organization. Overseeing corporate governance and risk mitigation, Peacock ensures that the company adheres to international standards while providing independent investment research and data solutions. This leadership role involves managing complex legal matters related to intellectual property, data privacy, and financial regulations. By providing strategic counsel to the executive team, Kathleen Peacock supports the expansion of business operations into new geographic markets. The Chief Legal Officer maintains rigorous oversight of contractual agreements and regulatory filings, protecting the reputation and assets of the firm. Through proactive legal management, Peacock enables the organization to navigate the evolving financial landscape, ensuring that all business activities remain compliant with local and international laws.