Company Press Release

MFEA Executive Council Program Launches Product Management Council

The MFEA is proud to launch its Executive Council Program’s newest group – the Product Management Council (PMC). “Over the past several years, trends have emerged that have placed significant demands on resources and decision-making related to mutual fund product. The Product Management Council provides a forum for senior product executives to explore this critical issue and the opportunities, strategies and challenges related to it,” said Brian Smith, Senior Director at the MFEA.

The PMC was officially launched yesterday at the MFEA’s annual Strategic Summit which was hosted by Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management in New York. Nearly 100 senior mutual fund executives responsible for product management and development, distribution and marketing gathered to network, hear expert perspective and discuss best practices.

The day’s agenda included a presentation on product innovation by Ben Phillips of Casey Quirk as well as in-depth presentations on building product lines, product concept, ideation and governance from Columbia, Natixis, BlackRock, OppenenheimerFunds, Alliance Bernstein and Charles Schwab.

The newly formed Product Management Committee is led by the following Steering Committee: Doug Beck, President of DWS Funds, Head of Product Management—Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management Lori Heinel, Senior Vice President & Chief Investment Strategist—OppenheimerFunds John Sturiale, Vice President—Charles Schwab Investment Management Chris Thompson, Head of Intermediary Distribution, Product & Marketing—Columbia Management Investment Advisers

MFEA’s Executive Council Program brings together senior executives to examine strategies, exchange ideas, discuss industry trends and best practices and identify key issues of importance in core business areas. The MFEA now manages four Executive Councils including eCommerce, Integrated Marketing, Intermediary Distribution, and Product Management.

For more information on the MFEA including its Executive Council Program, visit HYPERLINK "http://www.MFEA.info" www.MFEA.info.

###

For over 40 years, the MFEA has served the investment management industry as an important vehicle for bringing senior leaders together to explore the latest trends, best practices and key issues to strengthen the ways the fund industry serves investors and advisors.