Hugo Scott‐Gall, partner, is the head of the global equity team and a portfolio manager for the Global Leaders and Emerging Markets Leaders strategies at William Blair Investment Management. Before joining William Blair in 2018, he was a managing director and head of the thematic research team at Goldman Sachs. In that role, Hugo managed a global team of approximately 15 people who investigated thematic changes, analyzed their effects across industries, and sought to identify long‐term structurally advantaged companies. He and his team produced Fortnightly Thoughts, a publication offering thematic insights across sectors, and GS Sustain, a long‐term‐focused publication that sought to find best‐in‐breed companies, with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) analysis forming an integral part of the process. Hugo also oversaw GS Dataworks, a team that used alternative data to augment fundamental research. Before his move into thematic research, Hugo was an equity research analyst covering European transportation companies. Before joining Goldman Sachs, he was an equity research analyst at Fidelity Investments.

Ian Smith, partner, is a portfolio manager for William Blair’s Emerging Markets Leaders strategy. Before joining the firm in 2024, he was a global emerging markets portfolio manager at Newton from 2020 to 2023. Previously, Ian was a global emerging markets equity portfolio manager at AXA Investment Managers, where he worked since 2012. Before joining AXA, Ian was a research analyst covering Asian financials at Matrix Group and a research analyst covering emerging market financials at Nevsky Capital. He received a B.A. in economics and politics from Durham University.

Paul Birchenough, partner, is the global equity director of research and a portfolio manager for the Emerging Markets Leaders strategy at William Blair Investment Management. Before joining the firm in 2024, he was a global emerging markets portfolio manager at Newton from 2020 to 2023. Previously, Paul was a global emerging markets equity portfolio manager at AXA Investment Managers, where he worked since 2011. Before joining AXA, Paul was a research analyst at Nevsky Capital. Paul is an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA). He received a BSc Hons in mathematics from Nottingham University.