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Annual recognition celebrates innovation, leadership, and service across the asset and wealth management industry.

Boston, MA — October 16, 2025 — Nicsa, a leading non-profit association supporting the asset and wealth management industry, announced the recipients of its 2025 NOVA Awards. The NOVA Awards celebrate excellence in innovation, leadership, and professional development across the industry, recognizing organizations and individuals who exemplify Nicsa’s mission to advance best practices and foster collaboration.

“The NOVA Awards highlight the outstanding achievements of firms and professionals driving positive change across the asset and wealth management landscape,” said Jim Fitzpatrick, President & CEO of Nicsa. “Each of this year’s honorees represents a commitment to leadership, innovation, and stewardship that defines our industry’s future.”

Individual Honorees

• Lifetime Achievement Award
  Carol Geremia, President and Co-Head of Global Distribution – MFS Investment Management
• Outstanding Service Award (Robert L. Gould Award)
  Rhonda Dixon-Gunner, Head of Global Transfer Agency – Invesco
• Strategic Leadership Award (William T. Blackwell Award)
  Ian Martin, Chief Administrative Officer – Ultimus Fund Solutions
• President’s Award
  Scott Brady – Voya Investment Management

Firm of the Year Awards

• Alternative Investments Firm of the Year: Franklin Templeton
• Asset Management Firm of the Year: BlackRock
• Wealth Management Firm of the Year: Edward Jones

Industry Innovation Awards

• Distribution: Columbia Threadneedle Investments
• Operations: RBC US WM Operations and Ultimus Fund Solutions
• Product Development: SS&C Technologies
• Technology: Auquan and Broadridge

Emerging Leaders

Nicsa’s Emerging Leaders program recognizes rising professionals who demonstrate exceptional potential and dedication to advancing the industry. The 2025 honorees (alphabetized by firm) are:

• Justin Merrell (Allspring Global Investments)
• Alicia Austin (Broadridge)
• Sara Robison (Capital Group)
• Chase Stratton (Columbia Threadneedle Investments)
• Anita Kharwadkar (Edward Jones)
• Kate Kottmann (Edward Jones)
• Madheswaran Jeyapal (Envision Financial Systems)
• Megan MacDonald (Envision Financial Systems)
• Thomas Walsh (Hennion & Walsh Asset Management)
• Drew Olesen (Invesco)
• Kate Johnson (Morgan Stanley Wealth Management)
• Lauren Hunt (Northern Trust)
• Deepa Kadam (PwC)
• Wendy Miller (SS&C Technologies)

The 2025 NOVA Award winners will be honored at Nicsa’s Asset & Wealth Management Conference, taking place November 11–12, 2025, in Boston, MA.

For more information about the NOVA Awards and this year’s honorees, visit nicsa.org/nova-awards.

About Nicsa
Nicsa is a not-for-profit trade association striving to connect all facets of the global asset and wealth management industry in order to develop, share, implement, and advance leading practices.

Learn more at www.nicsa.org.

Press Contact:
Allison Lovett | Vice President, Content & Communications