FITCHINV.COM - Key Persons
Brett Hemsley is Global Analytical Head for Fitch Ratings. He is based in New York, and oversees ratings and research globally for all sectors.
Previously, Mr. Hemsley was Head of Asia Pacific for Fitch Group and led five separate businesses in the region: Fitch Ratings, Korea Ratings, eCredible, China Lianhe Credit Rating, and India Ratings & Research.
Before this, he was Head of Financial Institution Ratings in Asia Pacific for Fitch, and he served as Country Head of Fitch Ratings Japan. Mr. Hemsley joined Fitch in 2001 during Japan's financial crisis as an analyst of Japanese banks and insurance companies.
In the past Mr. Hemsley also worked on the sell side and in corporate banking in various financial institutions in both the City of London and Tokyo. He graduated with a BSc. in Physics from the University of St. Andrews and subsequently earned a MSc. in Financial Economics from the University of London.
Job Titles:
- Chief Compliance Officer for Fitch Ratings Based in London
Bruce Legorburu is the Chief Compliance Officer for Fitch Ratings based in London. Bruce is responsible for the compliance department and compliance matters globally.
Between July 2013 and April 2019, Bruce was Senior Legal Counsel for Fitch Ratings responsible for legal and regulatory matters across Asia Pacific and also (from December 2017) for EMEA. Before re-joining Fitch in 2013, Bruce was a Partner with the law firm Squire Sanders based in the Perth office, Australia. His practice focused on corporate and commercial law. Between 2003 and 2007, Bruce had worked as European Counsel for Fitch Ratings based in London supporting various business units in the EMEA region and acting as Regional Compliance Officer for EMEA & Asia Pacific. Prior to that, Bruce worked in private practice, from 1996 to 2003, as a corporate, commercial & technology lawyer for the law firms Sidley Austin (London) and Clifford Chance (London).
Bruce earned a BA in Philosophy, from the University of Toronto, a LL.B from the University of Edinburgh and a LL.M from University College London.
Job Titles:
- Chief Compliance Officer for Fitch Ratings Based in New York
- Fitch Ratings' Global Compliance Group As Head of Compliance - Americas
Heather Merrigan is the Chief Compliance Officer for Fitch Ratings based in New York. Heather is responsible for Compliance matters globally and is dedicated to improving financial performance by reducing Compliance and regulatory risk, enhancing the culture of Compliance at the firm, and enhancing controls.
Heather joined Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. in Chicago in 1998 as its first Assistant General Counsel. In 2000, she joined Fitch Ratings as part of the merger of the two firms and moved to New York. From 2000-2019, Heather served as Assistant General Counsel, providing legal support to various functional groups at Fitch. While serving in this capacity, Heather also served as the Regional Compliance Officer for the Americas from 2003-2010.
In 2019, Heather joined Fitch Ratings' Global Compliance Group as Head of Compliance- Americas, and in 2023 she became the Global Chief Compliance Officer.
Heather earned a BA from the University of Kansas, a JD from the University of Missouri- Kansas City and an MBA from Loyola University Chicago.
Job Titles:
- President of Fitch Ratings
Ian Linnell is President of Fitch Ratings. Appointed in February 2017, he is responsible for the company's analytical, commercial and operational activities. With more than 20 years of credit analysis and management experience at Fitch, Mr. Linnell leads the firm's focus on producing high-quality credit ratings, research and analysis.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Linnell was Global Analytical head, overseeing ratings and research for all sectors including Corporate Finance, Financial Institutions, Structured Finance & Covered Bonds, Sovereigns, U.S. Public Finance and Global Infrastructure and Project Finance. In that capacity he was also responsible for Fitch's Global Operations group.
Previously Mr. Linnell was Global Head of Structured Finance & Covered Bonds, leading the group that provides credit ratings and research on asset-backed securities, covered bonds, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities and structured credit. Mr. Linnell has held numerous analytical roles at Fitch, including Head of EMEA Banks and Global Head of Credit Policy, where he expanded the group beyond the Americas to cover all other regions.
He joined Fitch in 1997 as a regional director in Financial Institutions, with responsibility for rating, analyzing and developing company criteria for Scandinavia, Switzerland and major UK financial institutions.
Prior to joining Fitch, Mr. Linnell spent five years as an analyst with Standard & Poor's. Earlier, he was an economist and a banking supervisor for the Bank of England.
Mr. Linnell earned a BA in economics from Newcastle Upon Tyne University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer of Fitch Ratings
- Fitch in 2000 As EMEA Head of Corporate Business Development
Karen Skinner is Chief Operating Officer of Fitch Ratings. Appointed in July 2017, she has executive responsibility for the processes that govern Fitch's ratings production and delivery. As COO, Ms. Skinner oversees Ratings Operations; Publishing; Regulatory Affairs, Policies & Procedures; Business Analytics; Analytical & Business Applications; and Ratings Workflow. Ms. Skinner has been on the Board of Fitch Ratings Limited, Fitch Ratings Ireland Limited and Fitch Ratings CIS Limited since April 2021. As a board member and as part of her COO remit, she plays a key role in setting company strategy and culture; challenging and supporting senior management to meet the highest standards; and ensuring that Fitch Ratings meets its requirements as a regulated entity.
Ms. Skinner is on the Board of Directors of BritishAmerican Business (BAB), the leading transatlantic trade association. In this role, she is tasked with setting BAB's strategic direction in the areas of operations, programs, member benefits and policy initiatives.
Prior to her promotion to Ratings COO, Ms. Skinner was Head of Strategy and Business Intelligence at Fitch Group, where she worked closely with multiple business partners to execute tactical and strategic change across the business. In this role Ms. Skinner launched new products and services; delivered organizational change and operating efficiencies; and established a group business intelligence function.
Ms. Skinner joined Fitch in 2000 as EMEA Head of Corporate Business Development. In 2003, she was appointed to lead the structured finance business development team where she oversaw activities across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Fitch, she spent seven years at Schroders, initially in an analytical role covering corporate, financial institution and sovereign credits; before joining Derivatives Sales, covering a UK client base.
Ms. Skinner has a degree in law (LLB) from Southampton University.