Artisan Partners
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Asset management |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Andrew Ziegler, Carlene Ziegler |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee, Wisconsin , United States |
Area served | Global (including Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Singapore, Sydney) |
Key people | Eric Colson (CEO) |
Artisan Partners is a U.S.-based firm specializing in asset management, with its main office located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and additional branches in Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Singapore, and Sydney.
History
Established in 1994 by Andrew Ziegler, who previously served as President of Strong Capital Management, alongside his wife Carlene, a portfolio manager, Artisan Partners introduced its inaugural small-cap growth equity fund in 1995.
The company broadened its scope in 2002 by forming a global value team dedicated to markets beyond the United States. In 2006, Hellman & Friedman acquired a minority interest in the firm, coinciding with Artisan’s integration of an emerging markets team from DuPont Capital Management.
Carlene Ziegler retired in 2008 to pursue philanthropic endeavors. Two years later, Andrew Ziegler stepped down from his role as CEO to become executive chairman, with Eric Colson taking over as CEO.
After initially filing for an initial public offering in April 2011 but withdrawing due to unfavorable market conditions, Artisan Partners successfully completed its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in March 2013. The offering raised $332 million at $35.20 per share, surpassing the initial price range. The capital raised was allocated toward debt reduction, share repurchases, and distributions to partners prior to the IPO.
In 2014, Artisan expanded beyond equities by establishing a credit team concentrating on high-yield debt. That same year, Andrew Ziegler sold 1.4 million shares during a secondary offering and resigned as executive chairman.
In 2018, the Global Value team was reorganized into two distinct units focusing individually on U.S. and international markets.
By June 2023, Artisan Partners had been included in the S&P 600 index, marking its increased market presence and growth.
In May 2015, Artisan Partners called on The Adecco Group to reconsider the appointment of Alain Dehaze as CEO.
In January 2016, Artisan advocated for Johnson & Johnson to separate its consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices divisions into independent companies. They also recommended changes to the board and a review of executive compensation. Subsequently, the consumer health segment was spun off as Kenvue and listed on the NYSE in May 2023.
In February 2021, Artisan Partners demanded the removal of Danone CEO and chairman Emmanuel Faber. On March 15, 2023, Faber was ousted by a board vote of 10-5.
In December 2021, Artisan backed Toshiba’s proposal to divide into three separate companies.
In January 2022, Artisan urged Seven & I Holdings to break apart its operations.
In May 2022, Artisan called for the replacement of Credit Suisse CEO Thomas Gottstein. Gottstein resigned in July 2022 and was succeeded by Ulrich Körner.