Nationwide Funds continues to see changes in leadership, but consistency within the investment group and a more careful approach to its fund lineup warrant an Average Parent rating.
In September 2025, Craig Hawley became president of Nationwide Financial following the retirement of his predecessor John Carter. Hawley brings 30 years of industry experience and has held numerous executive roles since joining Nationwide in 2017. Other oversight responsibilities were shuffled, and Joseph Aniano now helms the investment management group. Aniano joined the firm in 2018 and most recently served as president of Nationwide’s brokerage business. Leadership changes have been substantial over the past five years, but the incoming directors have ample experience.
Despite changes at the top, the core investment squad and approach remain consistent. CIO Christopher Graham, who rose to his role in 2016, steers the investment team under Aniano. That team remains adequately resourced, with 10 professionals dedicated to manager selection and another six on multi-asset research.
Following some experimentation with more niche offerings, like the 2021 launch of risk-premia exchange-traded funds that were cut in 2024, the firm is leaning back into more straightforward, long-term solutions. It has prudently consolidated its lineup to fewer than 40 strategies, run by a mix of established and lesser-known subadvisors. Although the number of strategies has fallen, its subadvisor count has risen, reflecting the firm’s emphasis on subadvisor partnerships.
Note: This share class' Parent Pillar rating is analyst-driven, as its Branding Name, Nationwide (Branding Name ID: BN000009IQ), is covered by Morningstar Manager Research.
United States