# William Blair Investment Management

William Blair Investment Management is a Bank / Wealth / Trust based in Chicago, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Bank / Wealth / Trust
- **Headquarters:** Chicago, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Chicago, IL, United States
- **Founded:** 2014
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** williamblair.com

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 173961
- **SEC file number:** 801-80640
- **Registration status:** Registered
- **Reports private funds:** Yes
- **IAPD record:** https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/173961

## About

William Blair Investment Management was formally established in 2014 as the dedicated asset management division of William Blair & Company, the Chicago-based investment bank and wealth advisory firm founded in 1935. John Ettelson serves as president and CEO of the broader firm, which remains employee-owned — a partnership structure that extends to the investment management unit and shapes its long-duration decision-making. The entity manages capital for institutional investors, intermediaries, and private wealth clients, though specific AUM figures are not publicly disclosed. The firm deploys capital across equity and fixed-income strategies, with a particular concentration in active global and international equity mandates. Its equity platform spans large-cap growth, small-mid cap, emerging markets, and China-focused strategies, while the fixed-income group manages investment-grade, high-yield, and emerging-market debt portfolios. Confirmed institutional strategies include U.S. growth equity, international developed markets, and global low-duration fixed income. The firm allocates across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with research analysts stationed in multiple regions to support bottom-up security selection. Headquartered in Chicago, the investment management unit operates within the broader William Blair ecosystem, which includes investment banking, institutional sales and trading, and private wealth management. The firm also houses William Blair Funds, a proprietary mutual fund family distributing through intermediaries. In May 2024, the firm announced the launch of its first active ETF suite, converting several existing mutual fund strategies into ETF vehicles as part of a broader industry shift toward tax-efficient wrappers (per Bloomberg, May 2024). William Blair Investment Management's structural differentiator is its position within a fully employee-owned, partnership-structured investment bank. Unlike pure-play asset managers subject to quarterly earnings pressure, the firm's governance model allows portfolio managers to operate with extended time horizons and compensation aligned to multi-year performance. The partnership includes approximately 200 active partners across the parent company's business lines, creating a capital base and stability uncommon among mid-sized institutional managers.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- Healthcare Services
- FinTech
- Industrial Tech
- Consumer
- Energy Transition & Renewables
- Real Estate

## People

- John Ettelson — President and CEO

## Questions

### How is William Blair Investment Management related to William Blair & Company?

William Blair Investment Management is the dedicated asset management division of William Blair & Company, the Chicago-based investment bank and financial services firm founded in 1935. The parent company remains employee-owned, with approximately 200 active partners across investment banking, institutional sales and trading, private wealth management, and asset management. The investment management unit was formally established as a distinct operating division in 2014.

### What investment strategies does the firm run for institutional clients?

The firm manages active equity and fixed-income strategies for institutional investors globally. The equity platform includes U.S. large-cap growth, small-mid cap, international developed markets, emerging markets, and China-focused strategies. The fixed-income group runs investment-grade, high-yield, and emerging-market debt mandates. The firm also operates William Blair Funds, a proprietary mutual fund family, and in 2024 began converting strategies into active ETF wrappers.

### Is William Blair Investment Management structured as a partnership?

Yes. The parent company, William Blair & Company, is one of the largest remaining employee-owned private partnerships in the U.S. financial services industry. The partnership structure extends governance influence across all divisions, including investment management, and is designed to align decision-making with long-term client outcomes rather than quarterly earnings targets.

## Related profiles

- [William Beaumont Hospital Employees' Retirement Plan](https://altss.com/profile/william-beaumont-hospital-employees-retirement-plan)
- [William Blair Wealth Management](https://altss.com/profile/william-blair-wealth-management)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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