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, the Chief Financial Officer ensures the integrity of financial reporting while supporting the expansion of investment research platforms across North America and international markets. This leadership role involves managing investor relations and optimizing the balance sheet to sustain long-term growth. By aligning financial resources with the core mission of providing independent data, Michael Holt directly impacts the company's ability to scale technology solutions. Ultimately, Holt secures the financial foundation necessary for the firm to maintain market leadership in the competitive investment research sector.

Emma Rayburn, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Morningstar, executes financial analysis and internal controls to support the firm's global business units. Overseeing budgetary processes, the Deputy Chief Financial Officer ensures operational efficiency and cost management across diverse service lines. This leadership role involves partnering with the Chief Financial Officer to refine forecasting models and improve capital deployment strategies. By monitoring financial performance metrics, Emma Rayburn directly impacts the firm's ability to invest in new research and technology initiatives. Ultimately, Rayburn strengthens the financial governance framework that allows the company to navigate complex market environments while maintaining a focus on long-term value creation for stakeholders.

Frannie Besztery, the Chief Operating Officer, Direct Platform at Morningstar, manages the day-to-day execution of the firm's digital business unit. Overseeing cross-functional workflows, the Chief Operating Officer, Direct Platform ensures seamless delivery of software and research services to financial advisors. This leadership role involves streamlining operational processes to improve client onboarding and service quality across North American and international markets. By aligning internal resources with product development goals, Frannie Besztery directly impacts the growth and retention of the Direct Platform user base. Ultimately, Besztery drives the operational excellence required to maintain the firm's reputation as a premier provider of investment technology and research solutions.

Brock Johnson, the President, Retirement Solutions at Morningstar, directs the strategy and growth of the firm's retirement planning and managed portfolio services. Overseeing product innovation, the President, Retirement Solutions ensures that the firm provides effective tools for retirement plan providers and individual investors. This leadership role involves expanding the reach of managed portfolio solutions to help participants achieve better long-term financial outcomes. By driving the development of scalable retirement technology, Brock Johnson directly impacts the firm's ability to capture market share in the retirement sector. Ultimately, Johnson leads the efforts to simplify complex retirement planning, ensuring that the firm remains a trusted partner for those navigating the challenges of long-term financial security.

Adam Wheat, the Chief Technology Officer, Direct Platform at Morningstar, architects the software infrastructure powering the firm's flagship digital tools for financial advisors and individual investors. Overseeing the development lifecycle, the Chief Technology Officer, Direct Platform ensures high availability and performance of data-driven platforms across global regions. This leadership role involves integrating complex investment datasets into intuitive user interfaces that simplify portfolio management. By driving innovation in cloud-based delivery, Adam Wheat directly impacts the user experience for thousands of financial professionals. Ultimately, Wheat maintains the technical edge required to keep the Direct Platform at the forefront of the investment technology industry.

Sumair Pervaiz, the Group Chief Technology Officer, Morningstar Indexes & Sustainalytics at Morningstar, directs the technical strategy for index construction and ESG data integration. Overseeing the engineering teams, the Group Chief Technology Officer, Morningstar Indexes & Sustainalytics ensures the scalability of systems that process vast amounts of sustainability and market data. This leadership role involves collaborating with product leaders to enhance the analytical capabilities of the firm's index offerings. By optimizing data pipelines and computational models, Sumair Pervaiz directly impacts the accuracy and reliability of investment benchmarks used by asset managers worldwide. Ultimately, Pervaiz advances the technological infrastructure that supports the firm's commitment to sustainable and transparent investment practices.

Kristen Kanka, the Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Head of Direct Platform Business Unit at Morningstar, directs brand strategy and business development for the firm's digital offerings. Overseeing market positioning, the Chief Marketing Officer, Marketing & Head of Direct Platform Business Unit ensures that investment research and software solutions reach the target audience of financial advisors and individual investors. This leadership role involves crafting campaigns that highlight the value of independent data in portfolio construction. By driving engagement and lead generation, Kristen Kanka directly impacts the market penetration of the Direct Platform. Ultimately, Kanka shapes the public perception of the firm while overseeing the strategic direction of the business unit to ensure sustained commercial success.

Joan Schaper, the Operations, Morningstar Sustainalytics Chief of Staff at Morningstar, coordinates strategic initiatives and operational alignment within the ESG research division. Overseeing project management, the Operations, Morningstar Sustainalytics Chief of Staff ensures that research teams meet rigorous quality standards and delivery timelines. This leadership role involves facilitating communication between the Sustainalytics leadership and the broader corporate organization to ensure unified goals. By optimizing internal processes and resource allocation, Joan Schaper directly impacts the efficiency of ESG data production. Ultimately, Schaper supports the firm's mission by ensuring that the operational infrastructure remains robust enough to handle the increasing global demand for high-quality sustainability research and data.

Marie Lynch, the Chief People Officer at Morningstar, directs human capital strategy, talent acquisition, and organizational development. Overseeing the employee lifecycle, the Chief People Officer ensures that the firm attracts and retains top-tier talent capable of delivering high-quality investment research and technology. This leadership role involves fostering a culture of inclusion and professional growth across global offices. By implementing performance management systems and leadership development programs, Marie Lynch directly impacts the firm's ability to innovate and adapt to changing market conditions. Ultimately, Lynch builds the workforce capabilities necessary to support the company's mission of empowering investors through independent research and data-driven solutions.

Kathleen Peacock, the Chief Legal Officer at Morningstar, directs all legal, regulatory, and compliance functions for the global organization. Overseeing risk management, the Chief Legal Officer ensures that the firm adheres to complex financial regulations across North America, Europe, and Asia. This leadership role involves providing counsel on intellectual property, data privacy, and corporate governance matters. By mitigating legal risks and ensuring ethical standards, Kathleen Peacock directly impacts the firm's reputation and operational stability. Ultimately, Peacock provides the legal framework that allows the company to provide independent investment research and technology solutions with confidence and integrity in a highly regulated global financial landscape.