Wamco Set to Lose Job Managing Money for Russell Bond Fund

  • Russell Investments will wind down Wamco allocation to ‘zero’
  • Wamco’s bets on lower-quality bonds hurt Russell fund in 2022

The Western Asset Management Company headquarters in Pasadena, California.

Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg
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Western Asset Management Co., stung by an investor exodus after disclosing that star trader Ken Leech faces a federal investigation, is now losing its role as a subadviser to a Russell Investment Management fund.

The $2.2 billion Russell Strategic Bond Fund is winding down the portion of its assets allocated to Wamco to “zero,” according to a filing Friday. Russell expects to “formally terminate” Wamco’s role at the fund by year-end, pending board approval.