Baltimore — Brown Advisory, a private and independent investment management and strategic advisory firm, is pleased to announce that David Hodnett has assumed the role of Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). As the Director of DE&I, Mr. Hodnett will work across the business to continue and lead plans to deepen DE&I values in all aspects of Brown Advisory’s work with clients, colleagues and its communities.

Mr. Hodnett has worked at Brown Advisory for the last seven years in roles supporting and advising clients. He has also served as a leader of the Black and Hispanic Colleague Resource Group and is a member of the firm’s Racial Justice Taskforce. Prior to Brown Advisory, Mr. Hodnett served as an advisor with PNC Wealth Management where he provided trust administration and investment advice to families, professionals and business owners. He also led PNC’s diversity initiatives which focused on creating a more inclusive experience for PNC’s customers, professionals and communities. Mr. Hodnett is an attorney who holds a Bachelor of Arts from Morgan State University, a Master of Science from the University of Baltimore and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law.

“We are thrilled for David to lead and deepen our commitment to being a firm where all colleagues feel that they belong, are valued, and are able to thrive. It was special to see the depth and breadth of congratulations extended to David on our internal social platform when we announced this news to our colleagues. It was also reassuring to see that our colleagues’ comments acknowledged the continuing responsibility that each of us, as individuals, carry to ensure the equitable treatment and opportunity of each person regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation,” Mike Hankin, President and CEO of Brown Advisory said. “DE&I is a team effort, but teams need strong leadership—we are confident that David has the experience, focus and empathy needed to take our DE&I efforts to the next level.”

In his new role, Mr. Hodnett will report to the Chief Human Resources Officer, Rebecca Sugarman, and be responsible for the oversight of the firm’s Colleague Resource Groups, Diversity & Inclusion Core Team, Racial Justice Taskforce, Women’s Working Group and other DE&I-focused programs and initiatives.

“David’s professional experience, coupled with his personal authenticity, sincerity and thoughtfulness, make him the ideal candidate for this leadership role. He has forged deep respect and credibility among our colleagues and community members for speaking up on their behalf,” shares Rebecca Sugarman.

“It has been exciting to play a key role in the constructive steps that the firm has taken during the past five years,” commented David Hodnett. “We have colleague resource groups for women; Black, Hispanic and other people of color; Asian and Pacific Islanders; people who identify as LGBTQ+ and those who serve or have served in the military or as first responders. We have new recruiting and training programs. We use an external DE&I expert to survey our colleagues independently as to their level of comfort at the firm. But, we know that we have many more steps to take—at Brown Advisory and in the communities in which we live and work. I am excited to lead this effort.”

For more information on the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts, please visit the DE&I page on the website and Brown Advisory’s 2020 Sustainability Report.

About Brown Advisory

Brown Advisory is an independent investment management and strategic advisory firm committed to providing its clients with a combination of first-class investment performance, strategic advice and the highest level of service. The firm has offices in Austin, Baltimore, Boston, the Carolinas, Delaware, London, New York, Singapore, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The firm serves individuals, families, endowments, foundations and other institutions, and is responsible for approximately $95 billion in client assets as of September 30, 2020. The firm’s colleague equity ownership, experienced investment professionals and client-first culture help to make a material difference in the lives of its clients. For more information, please visit: https://www.brownadvisory.com/us/home

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