Dimensional Appoints Co-CEOs to its EMEA Business

Nathan Lacaze and John Romiza, directors and senior members of Dimensional’s leadership team in London, will become Co-CEOs of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (DFAL), effective July 1, 2018. After 28 years with Dimensional, Art Barlow, who is currently Managing Director of DFAL, will be retiring in early 2019.

John Romiza said, “We are excited to be stepping into these new roles. As Co-CEOs, our priority will be  to connect our global capabilities and local expertise and lead our business forward with clients across the EMEA region.” Nathan Lacaze added, “John and I have worked collaboratively for a decade. We plan  to lead the business jointly while each having a specific area of focus; John’s focus will be on client-focused activities and operations, and my focus will be on investment-related activities.”

Dimensional has had success with co-leadership throughout our history and in a variety of capacities, including Dave Butler and Gerard O’Reilly, current Co-CEOs of Dimensional Fund Advisors LP, the global parent. Dave Butler said, “We have significant experience applying the joint leadership model to enable scale, focus, and flexibility in our growing business. John and Nathan complement each other well and have our full support as they step into their new roles.”

“As long-serving members of Dimensional’s global investment team and leaders in our London office, Nathan and John are well prepared to assume this greater level of responsibility,” Gerard O’Reilly added. “These appointments reflect the strength of leadership and the depth of talent that we have across our global firm.”

After 28 years with Dimensional and five years as Managing Director of DFAL, Art Barlow will be stepping down from his current positions in July to focus on facilitating a successful transition in an executive capacity until he retires in early in 2019. “It’s been a pleasure working with Art and seeing the countless contributions he has made for our clients and our business,” Butler said. “We thank him and wish him well as he approaches his planned retirement.”

Art Barlow
Art Barlow is a Director, Managing Director, and member of the Investment Committee of DFAL; a  Director of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC, the Irish funds managed by DFAL; and serves on the ACD Committee, which oversees DFAL’s UK funds. Art will resign from these positions as of July 1, 2018, continuing on in an executive capacity to facilitate a successful transition until his retirement early in 2019.

Nathan Lacaze
Nathan Lacaze will become Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (DFAL) in July 2018.* He is currently a director of DFAL, Head of EMEA Portfolio Management, and a member of DFAL’s investment and management committees. Nathan is also on the Board of Directors of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC, Irish UCITS managed by DFAL. In his role as Head of EMEA Portfolio Management, Nathan oversees the management of existing portfolios and helps design and implement new strategies. He also takes an active role with clients.

Nathan joined Dimensional as a trading assistant in 2004 and received a bachelor of chemical engineering and a bachelor of commerce, with majors in finance and economics, from the University of Sydney. He received an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in London and is a CFA® charterholder.

John Romiza
John Romiza will become Co-CEO of Dimensional Fund Advisors Ltd. (DFAL) in July 2018.* He is currently a Director of DFAL and is a member of DFAL’s investment and management committees. He chairs the Board of Directors of Dimensional Funds PLC and Dimensional Funds II PLC and is Global Co-Head of Equity Trading. In his capacity as Co-Head of Equity Trading, he oversees trade execution strategies and coordinates all equity trading operations across the firm's global trading desks. Throughout his time with the firm, John has worked closely with Dimensional’s client service teams and interfaces directly with clients and prospects.

John joined Dimensional in 2008 as Head of International Trading. His career began in 1996 with Fidelity Investments. Prior to joining Dimensional, John served as senior vice president and director of European trading for Franklin Templeton. During his eight years with Franklin, John built the firm's European trading operation; his responsibilities included full oversight of all EMEA equity trading for the parent organization. He received a BS in finance from Bentley College in Boston.

*Subject to any necessary regulatory approvals.