Christopher L. Wilson
During 40 years in the mutual fund business, Chris served as President and CEO
of Columbia Funds for Columbia Management (a division of Bank of America)
from 2004 to 2009. He was brought in after the Fleet acquisition to design and run
what was the largest integration in mutual fund history combining Columbia,
Nations, Galaxy, Liberty, Stein Roe and Acorn funds into a single family. Chris
served as President and CEO of Nations Funds, Columbia Funds, Galaxy Funds,
Excelsior Funds and the Hatteras Fund during that period. In addition, he was a
Director for the offshore fund families Global Liquidity and Wanger Investments
as well as for the management company, BACMIL, based in Ireland. He held a
variety of senior titles for the Adviser, Distributor and Service Company within
Columbia.
In 2008, Barron’s ranked Columbia #1 in five-year performance. In 2007, Money
Management Executive named Chris Mutual Fund Leader of the Year. Chris’
leadership of risk, compliance, audit and governance services for the funds helped
navigate the 2008 financial crisis for Columbia.
Prior to joining Bank of America, Chris was the President & CEO of CDC IXIS
Asset Management Services, Inc., formerly known as NVEST Services, LP.
Before joining NVEST, Chris worked for nine years at Scudder, Stevens & Clark,
where he was a Principal. He started his career in 1980 at Fidelity as a customer
service representative.
Chris received a BA from Lake Forest College in Illinois. He holds a Master’s
Professional Director certification from the American College of Corporate
Directors. Chris completed the CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight from
Carnegie Mellon University/NACD.
Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors for the ISO-NE which manages
the New England Power Grid, where he has been a member of the Markets
Committee, Nominating & Governance, HR & Comp (former chair) and is chair
of the Audit Committee where he is lead director on Cyber Security. From 2014-
2016, Chris served on the TD Asset Management USA Board as an Independent
Trustee. Chris joined the Board of Invesco Funds in 2017 and served as independent chair of the fund complex from 2020-2022. He was formerly a member of the Board of
Governors of the Investment Company Institute, served on the Governing Council
of the Independent Directors Council in Washington and a former member of the
Board of Directors of the National Investment Company Service Association
(NICSA). He was a vice chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Finance
Committee of Lesley University; a Board member at Lake Forest College; and a
Board member at Carroll Center for the Blind. He was formerly a Director at
Unveil Corp and has served in a variety of Board capacities at other educational
and non-profit institutions.
In addition to his Board work, Chris is a consultant and private investor and has
been involved in funding start up businesses in the energy, technology, medical
technology, artificial intelligence and entertainment fields. In 2013, Chris
authored a book, BA to Boardroom With No BS, Skills for Life.
of Columbia Funds for Columbia Management (a division of Bank of America)
from 2004 to 2009. He was brought in after the Fleet acquisition to design and run
what was the largest integration in mutual fund history combining Columbia,
Nations, Galaxy, Liberty, Stein Roe and Acorn funds into a single family. Chris
served as President and CEO of Nations Funds, Columbia Funds, Galaxy Funds,
Excelsior Funds and the Hatteras Fund during that period. In addition, he was a
Director for the offshore fund families Global Liquidity and Wanger Investments
as well as for the management company, BACMIL, based in Ireland. He held a
variety of senior titles for the Adviser, Distributor and Service Company within
Columbia.
In 2008, Barron’s ranked Columbia #1 in five-year performance. In 2007, Money
Management Executive named Chris Mutual Fund Leader of the Year. Chris’
leadership of risk, compliance, audit and governance services for the funds helped
navigate the 2008 financial crisis for Columbia.
Prior to joining Bank of America, Chris was the President & CEO of CDC IXIS
Asset Management Services, Inc., formerly known as NVEST Services, LP.
Before joining NVEST, Chris worked for nine years at Scudder, Stevens & Clark,
where he was a Principal. He started his career in 1980 at Fidelity as a customer
service representative.
Chris received a BA from Lake Forest College in Illinois. He holds a Master’s
Professional Director certification from the American College of Corporate
Directors. Chris completed the CERT Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight from
Carnegie Mellon University/NACD.
Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors for the ISO-NE which manages
the New England Power Grid, where he has been a member of the Markets
Committee, Nominating & Governance, HR & Comp (former chair) and is chair
of the Audit Committee where he is lead director on Cyber Security. From 2014-
2016, Chris served on the TD Asset Management USA Board as an Independent
Trustee. Chris joined the Board of Invesco Funds in 2017 and served as independent chair of the fund complex from 2020-2022. He was formerly a member of the Board of
Governors of the Investment Company Institute, served on the Governing Council
of the Independent Directors Council in Washington and a former member of the
Board of Directors of the National Investment Company Service Association
(NICSA). He was a vice chair of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Finance
Committee of Lesley University; a Board member at Lake Forest College; and a
Board member at Carroll Center for the Blind. He was formerly a Director at
Unveil Corp and has served in a variety of Board capacities at other educational
and non-profit institutions.
In addition to his Board work, Chris is a consultant and private investor and has
been involved in funding start up businesses in the energy, technology, medical
technology, artificial intelligence and entertainment fields. In 2013, Chris
authored a book, BA to Boardroom With No BS, Skills for Life.