SEI founder Alfred P. West Jr is stepping down from his role as chief executive officer of more than 50 years to become executive chairman.
Current chief information officer Ryan Hicke will succeed West and will also serve as executive vice president and chief information officer, as well as a member of SEI’s board of directors, beginning June 1, 2022. The executive management team, which is now reporting to West, will report to Hicke.
Hicke was previously a senior vice president at SEI, where he was responsible for the company’s UK asset management and private banking divisions, as well as contributing significantly to the company’s global expansion. He is in charge of SEI’s information technology strategy and execution, as well as the company’s investment activities in the US and directing SEI Sphere, a new business venture in cyber and data security services.
West says: “It has been an honour to lead SEI since founding the company in 1968, and I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished over the last 50-plus years. Innovation is the key to success, and we must continually move our business forward in order to meet our global clients’ evolving needs.
“I’m confident that Ryan’s experience at SEI, his focus on growth and innovation, leadership skills, and SEI deep understanding of our culture, clients, and teammates make him the right choice to serve as SEI’s next CEO. SEI has an incredibly strong foundation for continued growth and the best talent in the industry, and I look forward to continuing to build brave futures in my new role as executive chairman.”
SEI chair of the selection committee Carl Guarino says: “On behalf of the entire SEI Board, I want to thank Al for his visionary leadership and significant contributions in establishing SEI as the trusted partner and market leader we are today. As we considered the next chapter for SEI, the Board and Al undertook a thoughtful and collaborative approach to succession planning over the last 12 months to identify the right CEO.
“We believe Ryan is the ideal person to lead our company forward and deliver strong results across our business globally for years to come. He is incredibly talented and committed to our culture, clients, and communities.”
Hicke says: “I have the privilege of working alongside the most talented team in the industry each day, and I’m honoured to serve as SEI’s next CEO. Al has been a tremendous mentor to me, and I’m grateful for his partnership and support over the years.
“He is a visionary leader who disrupted the financial services industry more than 50 years ago and established SEI as the trusted partner we are today. I look forward to continuing to unlock SEI’s potential, and I’m energised by the courage of our global workforce to capture the exciting opportunities ahead. SEI is uniquely positioned in the financial services industry to help our clients grow and manage change with confidence.”