In order to be an effective leader, Rodney Herenton, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Channing Capital Management LLC, reignites his passion for the business by communicating the firm’s vision for growth while fostering his team. “I strive to empower employees to make decisions and maintain an ownership mentality,” he said. “I motivate and encourage employees to establish development goals in an effort to advance roles and responsibilities within the organization.”
Established in 2003, Channing Capital Management LLC, is a boutique investment firm specializing in niche opportunities within the public equity markets, often overlooked by larger firms. Under Herenton’s leadership, Channing has grown from $70 million in seed assets to managing nearly $4.6 billion across 10 investment strategies.
Before co-founding Channing Capital Management, Herenton gained invaluable experience as an investment banker on Wall Street at Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns, followed by a tenure at Morgan Keegan & Company. As vice president of the consumer products group, he played a pivotal role in taking over 50 companies public. Following the firm’s sale to Regions Bank, Herenton launched Channing Capital Management LLC.
With Herenton at the helm, in 2023, the firm expanded into alternative asset management by acquiring a stake in Preserver Partners, diversifying its offerings and positioning itself for future growth. Looking ahead, the firm aims to double its assets to $10 billion within five years by maintaining strong investment performance, exploring global markets, and leveraging its offices in Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Memphis and a planned Nashville location.
Emphasizing a flexible, post-COVID-19 work environment, Herenton has launched a three-day workweek, fostering collaboration and efficiency. “As a financial services firm offering investment management products to the institutional marketplace, it is critical that we maintain a flexible work environment without compromising a high-quality, consistent service to our valued clients,” he said.
Herenton’s personal and professional accomplishments are numerous. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College and an alumnus of Harvard Business School, he has been recognized as one of Miami’s most influential and powerful Black professionals of 2023 and Memphis Magazine’s top 20 under 30. He is particularly proud of his Phi Beta Kappa honors, attributing his success to Morehouse’s emphasis on black history, culture and global exposure.
Today, Channing Capital Management ranks among the top 500 asset management firms and is the fourth-largest African-American-owned public equities boutique in the U.S. under Herenton’s leadership. The firm integrates advanced technology, including digital media and AI tools, to enhance operations and client service.
“As younger, more tech-savvy workers enter into the workforce, it is our goal to stay up to par with new technologies and tools for the work environment,” said Herenton.