Five Questions With: John Hailer

"WE ARE firmly committed to being a good corporate citizen, and we take pride in our innovative approach to civic engagement." / COURTESY NATIXIS GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT

John T. Hailer is president and CEO for the Americas and Asia for Natixis Global Asset Management, based on Boston. His mission is to ensure that the company’s asset management business is responsive to the needs of institutions, intermediaries and individuals by providing relevant solutions globally. Prior to joining the firm in 1999, he was with Fidelity Investments Institutional Services and was responsible for new business development in North America and Latin America.
He is on the board of The Home for Little Wanderers, Berklee College of Music, Boston Public Library and Boston Medical Center.
Hailer has a bachelor’s degree in government from Beloit College.

PBN: Natixis Global Asset Management has made a major commitment to its 2014 Jazz Diplomacy Project, sponsoring numerous events, including the 60th Newport Jazz Festival Aug. 1 to Aug. 3. As part of the project, the firm is sponsoring programs at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and partnering with Berklee College of Music to sponsor the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival in Boston. Is there a specific reason that Natixis Global Asset Management has chosen to be so involved in supporting jazz?
HAILER:
As a global asset-management firm, the goal of the Jazz Diplomacy Project directly aligns with our corporate mission of taking a unique, collaborative approach to achieving comprehensive solutions. We focus our sponsorship efforts on music because it has historically been a force that brings people together, connects cultures, unites communities and enhances the lives of individuals around the world. Music, specifically jazz, has been a powerful agent for collaboration across the globe, bringing with it a unifying quality. During a time of such division in the U.S. and around the world, we launched the 2014 Jazz Diplomacy Project as a historical proof point demonstrating the power of jazz to bridge divisions and encourage productive dialogue about challenges facing the world today.

PBN: The Newport Jazz Festival is one of the state’s signature events and puts Rhode Island in the international spotlight. The jazz festival has had several different sponsors in recent years. When did Natixis Global Asset Management become associated with this major Rhode Island music festival? Why?
HAILER:
Our partnership with Newport Jazz Festival started in 2011 when George Wein, the founder and chairman of the Newport Festivals Foundation Inc., starting looking for a sponsor who was not only interested in a remarkable branding opportunity, but truly wanted to help preserve the legacy of the festival. At the same time, we were looking for opportunities to increase our brand visibility in a way that makes a meaningful impact for others and supports our business.

PBN: As part of the Jazz Diplomacy Project, Natixis Global Asset Management is hosting several roundtable discussions on critical issues facing the United States, such as education, immigration and the economy. Being an asset management company, do you see this expansive mission of diplomacy as somewhat unusual, or just an example of common corporate sponsorship?
HAILER:
We are firmly committed to being a good corporate citizen, and we take pride in our innovative approach to civic engagement. The Jazz Diplomacy Project is much more than a sponsorship. We hope this program will have a positive and lasting effect on an increasingly polarized society, so that we may start finding solutions to a wide range of critical issues – from getting the economy back on track, to comprehensive immigration reform, to building an educated, competitive future workforce. Improving these conditions can benefit the world overall, and music is a bridge that can bring people together around the world.

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PBN: Natixis Global Asset Management has a stated intent “to learn from the lessons of jazz diplomacy efforts and advocate for potential solutions.” Do you think financial firms can or should, play a bigger role in diplomatic goals not directly linked to the work of your company? In other words, are you setting a high bar for similar companies to take a bigger role in bringing prosperity, justice and even peace to the world?
HAILER:
There’s nothing wrong with setting a high bar. Businesses have a responsibility to play a positive role in their communities. There are many companies doing great things around the world today, but we would be happy to see the numbers increase. It’s also important to note that the issues we’re discussing are important for virtually every business – the economy, education and immigration are global business issues.

PBN: Were you personally responsible for this focus on jazz? Was jazz selected because you have dual headquarters Boston and Paris, and jazz events tend to attract an international audience?
HAILER:
I’ve always enjoyed music, particularly jazz. I make an effort to have some involvement in all of our philanthropic and sponsorship strategies, but ultimately this was a decision I made along with our senior team. Jazz is a lot like our company. It has a foundation based on fundamentals, but innovation is what makes it great. We challenge the way business is done by looking for innovations, whether we’re working on new products or collaborating with our charitable partners. As a firm, our aim is to make a difference in the world through an innovative approach to charitable giving and through our music sponsorships. Our strategies are all based on true collaboration with partners ranging from education, social services and music. When it’s possible, we always look for opportunities that are global in nature.

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