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Rachel Lord

Rachel Lord stands smiling at the camera wearing red and green graduation robes and a black cap.

Presentation address by Professor Iain Clacher

Chancellor, 

Rachel Lord is one of the most senior and influential executives in global finance and is a member of the executive board of the world's largest asset manager, BlackRock, which is responsible for $14 trillion of investments globally.

An alumna of the University, Rachel graduated in 1987 from the University of Leeds with a BA (Hons) First Class in International History & Politics. Since then, she has had a remarkable career rising to one of the most significant leadership positions in global finance, in an industry that is still largely male dominated at the most senior levels.

After her time at Leeds, Rachel qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1990, before moving into structured finance and subsequently into equity derivatives. She was at Morgan Stanley approximately 13 years, holding senior roles across Europe and Asia in equities and capital markets. After Morgan Stanley, she moved to Citigroup, where she served as Global Head of Corporate Equity Derivatives. 

She joined BlackRock in 2013, moving from investment banking into asset management. Initially leading BlackRock’s iShares Exchange Traded Fund business in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa Rachel played a key role in scaling one of the most important Exchange Traded Fund platforms globally. Subsequently, she became Head of Blackrock’s business in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, overseeing a major regional business, before taking leadership of BlackRock’s Asia-Pacific business. It is worth noting that few executives have run both regions.

Today, Rachel is Senior Managing Director and Head of International, with responsibility for all of BlackRock’s business outside the Americas. This includes Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and India. In practice, she runs a multi-trillion-dollar business spanning approximately 75 countries, employing thousands of people around the world, that generates billions of dollars in annual revenue. 

As a member of the Global Executive Committee, Rachel contributes directly to BlackRock’s firm-wide strategy, playing a critical role in determining how the company allocates capital, prioritizes different markets, and develops new investment products, managing trillions of dollars on behalf of individuals around the world, whether through their pension schemes, individual retirement accounts, or other investment portfolios. Rachel’s decisions do not therefore only affect financial markets, they have a material effect on the savings, investments, and retirement outcomes of millions of people globally.

Throughout her career, Rachel has significantly enhanced diversity and inclusion policies and practices at BlackRock and across the wider industry.  From increasing female representation in leadership teams to sponsoring internship programmes for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, she champions equal opportunities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Rachel is also a quiet philanthropist, supporting people and organisations with ambition and potential. One local example is her patronage of Trust Leeds, an innovative charity that works alongside individuals to help them build financial independence, confidence and practical skills. Drawing on successful global models of microfinance and self-reliant groups, Trust Leeds is helping to improve both the wealth and wellbeing of communities across the region.    

In recognition of her achievements, in 2020 Rachel was named the European Asset Management Industry Leader of the Year in the female category by Financial News. She received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Finance Asia, and the 2023 APAC Industry Leadership Award from 100 Women in Finance.

Chancellor, I am delighted to present to you for the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, Rachel Lord.