Leo Harmon is Senior Managing Director of Mesirow Equity Management. As Chief Investment Officer, he oversees all aspects of the investment process. Leo is a Portfolio Manager for the Small Cap and SMID Cap strategies. He also works closely with John Nelson to implement our portfolio strategy within the Financial Services sector. Leo is also the Chair and current head of the nominating committee for the Mesirow DEI Council.

Leo has more than 25 years of industry experience. He joined Mesirow when the firm acquired Fiduciary Management Associates in 2016. At FMA Leo was Director of Research, Portfolio Manager for the Small Cap Value and SMID Cap Value strategies and a Research Analyst covering the Financial Services sector. Prior to joining FMA in 2003, he was a Portfolio Manager at Allstate Insurance, Allstate Investments LLC.

Leo is a member of the National Association of Securities Professionals and the Economics Club of Chicago. He is also a member of the CFA Society of Chicago where he was appointed to the board of directors and served as Chairman. Leo has served as Chairman on the External Investment Committee for the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer. He facilitates the firm’s curriculum in the Big Shoulders Fund’s “Stock Market Program” which provides education on the concepts of investing to eighth grade students in the neediest areas of inner-city Chicago. He also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Bradley University.

Leo earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from Bradley University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.