Erick Russell

State Treasurer of Connecticut

The State of Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds have been a leader in diverse manager investing going back to the mid-1970s when Henry Parker became the first Black Treasurer of the state thereby paving the way for Frank Borges, Denise Napier and other Black treasurers to preserve his legacy. Through its highly publicized CT Horizons Fund, the state became a model for other public pensions throughout the 1990s. The Connecticut Inclusive Investment Initiative ("Ci3") is the restructured Emerging and Diverse manager program. CI3 targets investments with emerging and diverse managers across both public and private asset classes and will provide a pathway for growth of the best emerging managers in the industry. The program will target doubling the percentage of each asset class managed by diverse firms. Erick Russell was sworn in as Connecticut’s 84th State Treasurer on January 4, 2023. As treasurer, Russell administers Connecticut’s pension funds holding over $50 billion in assets. He has been an advocate for people traditionally left out of the political process and denied economic opportunity. He is prioritizing financial literacy, sound fiscal policy and necessary statewide investments that maximize resources while growing the economy and combating systemic inequities. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Russell has embraced the role of mentor, particularly for young Black and LGBTQ people. In 2022, he became the first Black LGBTQ person in American history to win an election for statewide office.