Chris Cummings to step down as Chief Executive of Investment Association

Chris Cummings, Chief Executive of the Investment Association, will be stepping down from his role in June 2026 following ten successful years in the post.  

Commenting on his departure, Chair of the IA Board, and Executive Vice President and Head of EMEA for State Street Investment Management, Ann Prendergast said:

“On behalf of the IA Board, I would like to extend our thanks to Chris Cummings for his dedicated service to the investment management industry. Under his leadership, the IA has navigated the industry through a period of substantial change, including Brexit and the global pandemic. He has successfully championed the role of industry in driving economic growth and leading the way in innovation, while staying true to its central purpose of serving clients. I know all in the industry will wish him all the best for the future.”  

Chris Cummings, Chief Executive of the IA, said:

“The investment management industry is truly the jewel in the crown of the UK’s financial services sector, and it has been a great privilege to lead the IA for the past decade. I’m extremely proud to have overseen the IA’s growth into wealth management, private markets, and especially fintech, where we have played a central role in driving technological innovation, through the creation of IA Engine and our work on tokenisation and AI. The industry has shown it can attract the best talent from around the world while also growing its own, and I am particularly proud of the work of Investment20/20 in bringing in a rich diversity of talented individuals. 

“Thank you to those across the industry and my exceptional team including, IA colleagues, Board members, and Chairs, whose dedication and expertise have made my ten years with the IA such a positive experience.” 

During the past ten years, the IA has: 

• Cemented its role as a leader on innovation with the launch of IA Engine in 2018, a fintech accelerator working with over 270 firms and partners to fuel the adoption of technology within the investment management industry.  

• Expanded its international reach through the establishment of an office in Brussels and a Washington operation. The IA also became an affiliate member of IOSCO and gained observer status at COP. 

• Tackled ‘safetyism’ and promoted UK competitiveness resulting in policy and regulatory change, such as the inclusion of a secondary competitiveness objective for the FCA and current review of risk warnings.  

• Built a strong industry talent pipeline by joining forces with Investment20/20 in 2021 to help over 3,000 young people start their careers in the investment management industry.  

• Modernised stewardship and continued to highlight the importance of robust corporate governance standards that are better attuned to the needs of an economy that wants to see high calibre, high growth companies grow, list, and prosper in the UK. 

• Championed a culture of inclusive investment resulting in the IA taking on the role of secretariat for the UK retail investment campaign, and heading the Investment Risk Warnings Review, announced as part of the Leeds Reforms to educate people on the benefit of investing.  

Recruitment for a new Chief Executive will begin imminently.