JACKSON SQUARE PARTNERS - Key Persons


Alyssa Benavidez

Job Titles:
  • RESEARCH COORDINATOR & PROXY ANALYST
Alyssa joined Jackson Square Partners, in October 2018 as a Research Coordinator. Previously, she was a Legal Assistant at Horton, Knox, Carter & Foote LLP in San Diego, CA from September 2012 to October 2018. Alyssa received a B.A. in Communications at the University of San Francisco and M.A. in Communications at San Diego State University. In her free time, she enjoys visiting her family in Southern California and is passionate about fitness, nutrition, and French Bulldogs.

Brian Tolles

Job Titles:
  • ANALYST
  • PORTFOLIO MANAGER
  • PORTFOLIO MANAGER, ANALYST / Performance
Brian joined Jackson Square Partners as an analyst in February 2016 and was promoted to portfolio manager in January 2019. Prior to joining Jackson Square, he was an investment banking analyst at Qatalyst Partners from June 2014 to January 2016, focusing on technology companies. He received a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, hiking and backpacking, skiing, hockey, and reading.

Charlie Ruch

Job Titles:
  • HEAD of INVESTOR RELATIONS
Charlie joined Jackson Square Partners in August 2021 as Head of Investor Relations. Prior to joining Jackson Square, he was a Managing Director at Wellington Management, where he spent a decade as a relationship manager covering institutional clients. Prior to joining Wellington Management in 2006, he was an Equity Research Associate at Oppenheimer & Co. Charlie earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor's degree in History and Science from Harvard College. He is also a CFA charterholder. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, skiing, reading, and spending time with his family.

Christopher Bonavico

Job Titles:
  • ANALYST
  • PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Chris is a founding member of Jackson Square Partners serving as a portfolio manager and analyst since its inception in May 2014. His tenure with the team spans almost three decades. Prior to founding Jackson Square, he was a portfolio manager of the Delaware Investments Focus Growth Equity team from April 2005 to April 2014. Prior to Delaware Investments, he was a principal and portfolio manager at Transamerica Investment Management, where he managed sub-advised funds and institutional separate accounts. Before joining Transamerica in 1993, he was a research analyst for Salomon Brothers. Chris received his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Delaware and is a CFA charterholder. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, exercising, skiing, reading, listening to live music, engaging in philanthropy, and spending time with his kids.

Christopher Ericksen - CEO, CFO

Job Titles:
  • CFO
  • MANAGING PARTNER
Chris is a founding member of Jackson Square Partners, and served as a portfolio manager and analyst before being promoted to Managing Partner in 2023 and CFO in 2024. He has been a part of the team for more than 15 years. Prior to founding Jackson Square, he was a portfolio manager of the Delaware Investments Focus Growth Equity team from April 2005 to April 2014. Prior to joining Delaware Investments, he was a portfolio manager at Transamerica Investment Management, where he also managed institutional separate accounts. Before joining Transamerica in 2004, he was a vice president at Goldman Sachs. During his 10 years there, he worked in investment banking as well as investment management. Chris received his bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University, with majors in industrial management, economics, and political science. He is also a CFA charterholder. In his free time, he participates on his local public school board and is passionate about snowboarding, politics, music, and film.

Ian Ferry - Chief Investment Officer

Job Titles:
  • ANALYST
  • CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
  • Founding Member
  • PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Ian is a founding member of Jackson Square Partners, serving as a portfolio manager and analyst since its inception in May 2014. He was promoted to CIO in 2023. He has been a part of the team for over a decade. Prior to founding Jackson Square, he was a portfolio manager of the Delaware Investments Focus Growth Equity team from November 2011 to April 2014. Prior to joining Delaware Investments, he was an equity research analyst with Fidelity from August 2010 to October 2011. Before that, he completed an internship as an analyst with Carlson Capital in summer 2009. Previously, he worked with HarbourVest Partners from 2005 to 2008 in its private equity group, where he analyzed and completed growth equity investments and leveraged buyouts for the firm. Ian began his career with Houlihan Lokey in 2004 as a financial analyst. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Tulane University. Ian also earned an MBA, with a concentration in management, from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 2010. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, reading biographies, running trails, and engaging in non-profits with an education focus.

Jeffrey Van Harte

Job Titles:
  • ADVISOR
  • Member of the Board
Jeff along with several colleagues in the firm, founded Jackson Square Partners in May 2014. Jeff serves as a member of the board and previously was the Chairman and Chief Investment Officer for Jackson Square Partners from 2014-2022. Jeff led the team, then called the Focus Growth Equity team, while at Delaware Investments from April 2005 to April 2014. Prior to Delaware Investments, he was a principal and executive vice president at Transamerica Investment Management. Jeff has been managing portfolios and separate accounts for more than 30 years. Before becoming a portfolio manager, he was a securities analyst and trader for Transamerica Investment Services, which he joined in 1980. Jeff received his bachelor's degree in finance from California State University at Fullerton and is a CFA charterholder. Outside of work, he is passionate about golf, reading, and higher education philanthropy.

Jillian Ponte

Job Titles:
  • ESG RESEARCH ANALYST
Jillian joined Jackson Square Partners in January 2015 as a Research Coordinator. She was promoted to Senior Research Coordinator and recently promoted as an ESG Research Analyst. Previously, she worked in Investor Relations at Urstadt Biddle Properties. Prior to that she was a Stock Surveillance Analyst at Thomson Reuters. She received a M.A. in International and Development Economics from the University of San Francisco, a B.A. in Political Science from San Francisco State University and an A.S. in Registered Nursing from Merced College. In addition, Jillian is a FSA Credential holder, has a Certificate in ESG Investing from the CFA Society, and is a licensed Registered Nurse in the state of California. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, dance classes and spending time with her family.

Kenneth Broad - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • ANALYST
  • Chairman
  • Founding Member
  • PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Ken is a founding member of Jackson Square Partners and has served as a portfolio manager and analyst since its inception in May 2014. He was promoted to co-chair in 2023. He has spent more than 20 years with the team. Previously, he was a portfolio manager of the Delaware Investments Focus Growth Equity team from April 2005 to April 2014. Prior to Delaware Investments, he was a principal and portfolio manager at Transamerica Investment Management, where he managed sub-advised funds and institutional separate accounts. Before joining Transamerica in 2000, he was a portfolio manager with The Franklin Templeton Group and was a consultant in the business valuation and merger and acquisition group at KPMG Peat Marwick. He received an MBA from the University of California at Los Angeles and his bachelor's degree in economics from Colgate University. He is also a CFA charterholder. Outside of work, Ken is an External Advisory Board member for the Center for Freedom and Western Civilization (CFWC) at Colgate and a member of the board of Councilors for USC's Center for the Political Future (CPF). He is passionate about books, libraries, cinema, and philosophy.

Lauren LaRoche

Job Titles:
  • HEAD of CLIENT OPERATIONS
  • HEAD of CLIENT OPERATIONS / William Montana
Lauren joined Jackson Square Partners in February 2015 in Middle Office Operations and was promoted to Marketing & Business Operations Coordinator in 2018, and Head of Client Operations in 2021. Previously, she was head of Trade Operations for Charles Schwab Investment Management (CSIM) in San Francisco from September 2012 to January 2015 and the manager of Trade Operations for CSIM in Denver from January 2011 to August 2011, during the gap year Lauren lived abroad in Hong Kong. Prior to CSIM, Lauren worked for Wall Street On Demand as a Project Manager and Hotwire as Customer Operations Analyst in 2009 and 2010 and BlackRock in various capacities from May 2006 to November 2008. Lauren received her B.S. in Economics and Minor in Political Science from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. In her free time, she is passionate about running and everything outdoors and enjoys working on various house projects along with cooking for both friends and family.

Marisa Purcell

Job Titles:
  • CONTROLLER
Marisa joined Jackson Square Partners in June 2018, as a Finance and Data Associate. She received a bachelor's degree in Economics and in Social Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking with her dog, Mocha, and baking.

Sean Kreiger - Chief Compliance Officer

Job Titles:
  • CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER
Sean has been Jackson Square's Chief Compliance Officer since August 2015. Sean holds a Master of Law degree in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University and a law degree from the University of Baltimore. His undergraduate degree was attained at the University of Maryland. Sean started his professional career as an attorney with the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) followed by several years in private practice in the New York office of the law firm of K&L Gates. He then used this background to transition his career into a variety of legal and compliance roles in the asset management industry. This experience included roles as the CCO of a multi-strategy hedge fund manager in New York and in legal and compliance roles at AIG Investments and Babson Capital Management in Boston. Prior to joining Jackson Square, Sean spent three years as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of a multi-billion-dollar San Francisco based asset manager. In his free time, he enjoys running, reading, and traveling.

Thomas Duffy

Job Titles:
  • TRADE SUPPORT MANAGER
Tom became a member of Jackson Square Partners, at its inception in May 2014 as a trader. Prior to joining Jackson Square, he was a trader on the Delaware Investments Focus Growth Equity team during April 2014. Prior to that, he was a trader with Snyder Capital Management from 2010 to 2014. Before that, Tom held positions with Husic Capital Management, which he left as head of trading operations, and with Fremont Investment Advisors. He began his career in 1996 with AIM Funds (formerly GT Global) as a senior mutual fund accountant. Tom earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Arizona State University. Outside of work, his passions are watching football, spending time with his dog, Mocha, and maintaining the many different relationships he has in his place of birth.

William Montana

Job Titles:
  • ANALYST
  • PORTFOLIO MANAGER
  • HEAD of CLIENT OPERATIONS / William Montana
Billy joined Jackson Square Partners as an analyst in September 2014 and was promoted to portfolio manager in January 2019. Prior to joining Jackson Square, he was an associate at TPG Capital, a private equity firm, from August 2011 to August 2014, focusing on growth capital opportunities. Before that, Billy spent two years at Goldman Sachs as an investment banking analyst, focusing on financial institutions. He received a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, snowboarding, drums, poker, and bike rides with his family.

Yegor Kurganov

Job Titles:
  • ANALYST
Yegor joined Jackson Square Partners as an analyst in 2021. Prior to joining Jackson Square, he was at Vitruvian Partners as a vice president (2018-2021) and at Bain Capital as an associate (2015-2017). At Vitruvian and Bain Capital, Yegor focused on leveraged buyout and growth equity investing, primarily within the healthcare and technology sectors. Yegor started his career at McKinsey & Co, working for the private equity and healthcare practices. He received a BSc from King's College London in Molecular Genetics and spent one year abroad studying Molecular & Cell Biology at University of California, Berkeley. Outside of work, his interests include skiing, biking and sailing.