Mr. Diamond, portfolio manager, joined Lord Abbett in 2007 as a research analyst for the mid cap value equity strategy. His prior experience includes: Managing Director at Axia Capital Management, LLC; Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager at Franklin Mutual Advisers; Vice President, Assistant Portfolio Manager at Prudential Mutual Funds; and Vice President, Financial Restructuring, at Prudential Capital Group. Mr. Diamond received a BS from Cornell University and an MBA from Columbia University. He is a holder of a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and has been in the investment business since 1987.

John Hardy is responsible for contributing to the management for the firm’s large cap value, multi cap value, mid cap value, smid cap value and small cap value strategies. Mr. Hardy joined Lord Abbett in 2011. His previous experience includes serving as Vice President, Senior Financial Analyst – Clean Technology at Gleacher & Co. and Vice President, Senior Financial Analyst – Clean Technology, Associate Research Analyst – Technology, and Trading Assistant at American Technology Research, Inc. He has worked in the financial services industry since 2003. He earned a BS in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University.

Darnell Azeez leads Lord Abbett’s Value Equity team and contributes to the management of the firm’s Dividend strategies. Mr. Azeez re-joined Lord Abbett in 2015. Prior to his current role, he served as a Portfolio Manager on the firm’s taxable fixed income team. His previous experience includes serving as a Equity Research Analyst at TAMRO Capital Partners; Equity Research Analyst, Director of Public Fund Marketing and Advisor Consultant at Lord Abbett. He has worked in the financial services industry since 2002. He has worked in the financial services industry since 2002. He earned a BA in economics and business from Lafayette College and is a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation.