Baer Pettit

In his dual role as president and chief operating officer (COO), Baer Pettit oversees MSCI’s day-to-day operations and leads the company’s business functions, including client coverage, marketing and communications, product management, research and product development, technology, data services and operations. He has been president since 2017.

He serves on MSCI’s Board of Directors, is a member of MSCI’s Executive Committee, and is the executive leader of the company’s innovation initiative. He also serves on the Index Industry Association Board of Directors.

Baer has served in a variety of executive-level roles since joining MSCI in 2000, including as head of European client coverage, as well as the global head of products, client coverage, marketing, and index before becoming COO in 2015.

Previously, Baer ran the sales organization in France, Scandinavia and the U.K. as head of Bloomberg’s European sales organization. He also worked in equity derivatives at Barclays De Zoete Wedd and Morgan Stanley Asset Management.

Baer is both a U.S. and U.K. national who speaks French, German, and some Dutch. He holds a Master of Arts in History from Trinity College, Cambridge University and a Master of Science from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.