Meet the Visionary Driving Channing Global’s Award Winning Strategy
In March 2025, Channing Global Advisors was named the top manager in the International Equity category of Emerging Manager Monthly’s Emerging Manager Awards. It was a meaningful recognition—and one that speaks directly to the leadership of Ron Holt, CFA, who oversees Channing’s International Developed, ACWI ex-USA, and Global Equity strategies.
But accolades alone don’t tell the full story. What sets Ron apart isn’t just his investment record—it’s the mindset, work ethic, and conviction he brings to finding opportunities others overlook. With more than 25 years in the investment industry—as an executive, portfolio manager, entrepreneur, and analyst—Ron’s built a deep understanding of what drives long-term returns across global markets.
We asked Ron how he came to lead Channing’s international and global equity strategies, what motivates him, and why he believes the best ideas are often found where few are looking. Here’s a recap of his answers.
Finding the Right Fit
Before joining Channing in 2018, I was running my own investment firm and managing a global equity strategy. It was rewarding work, but a few years in, I started to miss the energy and collaboration of a team.
A mutual connection introduced me to Rodney Herenton. Rodney and Wendell Mackey—Channing’s co-founders—were exploring the idea of expanding into emerging markets, international, and global equities. Over the next couple of years, we kept the conversation going. We weren’t just talking about investment philosophy—we were getting to know each other. That relationship-first approach is a big part of Channing’s culture.
Along the way, Rodney introduced me to another portfolio manager they were speaking with about joining the team: Josephine Jimenez—currently Channing Global Advisors’ Chief Investment Officer. Josephine has more than two decades of experience in emerging markets and is one of the most rigorous investors I know. Like me, she’s navigated through the Russian financial crisis, the Asian financial crises, and other major market events. The more we talked and got to know each other, the more it felt like we were already on the same team.
Meanwhile, I was doing my homework, gathering as much information as I could about Channing. Everything just clicked. The emphasis on quality, discipline, valuation—it reflected a process and philosophy already rooted in my own investment approach. So when Rodney and Wendell asked me to lead Channing Global’s international and global equity strategies, the decision was easy.
The Work That Drives Me
What excites me most about this work is the hunt—searching for quality companies whose intrinsic value is underappreciated by the market. Especially outside the U.S., where market coverage can be thinner and short-term sentiment often overshadows fundamentals.
At Channing, we follow a disciplined, valuation-based process grounded in patience and consistency. We look for well-run businesses trading at a discount. That sounds simple—but it takes experience and conviction to stick to that approach when the market gets noisy.
Seeing Growth Up Close
Where I’ve really been struck by the pace of change and growth is India and China. They’re both massive from a population standpoint, but they’re evolving in different ways.
China’s population is older and its economy is more centralized—it’s a command structure, more top-down. The infrastructure is highly developed, things are incredibly organized, and the level of execution you see on large-scale projects is impressive.
India has a much younger population. It’s a democracy—some say maybe too much of one, since so many things go to a vote—but it’s dynamic and growing. You can feel the energy. It may not yet have the same level of infrastructure or coordination as China, but you can see it getting there—improving, modernizing, building.
The people in both countries are deeply engaged and full of potential. The culture, the food, the history—it’s all incredibly rich. But from an investment standpoint, it’s the rapid development, especially in India, that’s opening up a lot of new opportunities.
Owning the Outcome
I believe in having skin in the game. That started when I co-founded an asset management firm and put my own capital behind the strategy, and it continues today.
I invest in the same portfolios our clients do—because I want to be held to the same outcomes.
That ownership mindset extends to companies I’m evaluating for the portfolios I manage. Would I want to own the whole company? That’s how I frame investment decisions. Not just as trades, but as personal ownership stakes.
Lessons From Home
I grew up in Kansas, raised by two parents who modeled humility, consistency, and service. My mom worked at the United Methodist Church Conference and MetLife for several years before moving to a long stint at Boeing. My dad started as a meter reader for Kansas Gas & Electric and worked his way up to president, enjoying nearly a 40-year career at the company. Even after retiring, he continued working as Assistant County Manger for Sedgwick county where he oversaw many community development projects.
That steady work ethic made a deep impression on me. It shaped the way I approach my own work, and it’s the foundation of how I lead today.
From the Court to the Trading Floor
Now that I’m 25+ years into my career, it’s hard to imagine doing anything other than investment management. But in college, my plan was to become a career coach.
I attended a community college in Kansas before transferring to Columbia University, where I played basketball and majored in economics. After my NCAA eligibility ended, I stayed at Columbia to finish my degree requirements and volunteer as a graduate assistant coach.
Then something unexpected happened.
I attended a meeting of Columbia’s basketball advisory committee, held at the offices of one of our advisors—an executive at a Wall Street firm. On the way to the boardroom, we walked across the firm’s trading floor. The energy in that room—the pace, the focus, the urgency—stuck with me.
Unable to shake that feeling, I talked with my coach about changing my career plan. He introduced me to a few of his connections, and one of those conversations turned into an opportunity at Merrill Lynch. It wasn’t the path I intended to take, but it’s the one that felt right.
Looking Ahead
We’ve built something special at Channing Global Advisors—a global and international equity platform grounded in experience, discipline, and long-term value. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished—and even more excited about where we’re headed.
Want to learn more about the philosophy and process behind Channing Global Advisors’ award-winning international equity strategy? Visit Channing Global Advisors to explore how our disciplined, valuation-driven approach identifies investment opportunities others often overlook.