AllianceBernstein Promotes James Thompson To Focus on Wealthy Multicultural Investors

James Thompson has been appointed the head of Diverse Markets Strategy, a newly created role at Bernstein Private Wealth Management.

A unit of AllianceBernstein L.P., Bernstein Private Wealth Management created the role dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and the multicultural marketplace and Thompson will lead the company’s efforts in developing relationships with multicultural high-net-worth individuals and their families, business owners, institutions, and not-for-profit organizations, and provide them access to Bernstein’s research and investment planning expertise.

“We believe strongly that this role presents us a significant opportunity to attract and better serve investors in this fast-growing segment of the market,” said Joel Stevens, senior managing director at Bernstein in a press release. “We’re thrilled to partner with diverse accountants, attorneys, consultants and investment bankers to introduce Bernstein’s services to a broader opportunity set of clientele as well as to enhance our ability to attract and develop diverse talent.”

Prior to this role, Thompson led business development, marketing strategy, and program execution for AllianceBernstein’s global insurance arm. Before that, he led the firm’s North America institutional and insurance services divisions. Thompson has also held several distinct leadership roles to promote the professional development of diverse talent internally across the firm.

He worked with external organizations focused on diversity and inclusion, which includes partnerships with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), to recruit from diverse groups throughout the U.S.

Thompson graduated Temple University’s Fox School of Business with a double degree in Marketing and Human Resources Administration in 1998. He worked as an investor services representative and shareholders communications manager for SEI Investments before joining ING Annuities in 2004. Thompson became the vice president of Third Party Distribution and Annuities Marketing in 2006. He was promoted to Head of the company’s marketing solutions in 2011. Thompson moved to AllianceBernstein the same year to become its director of Institutional and Insurance Services Marketing in North America. He moved up the ranks at AllianceBernstein to become its VP of Diverse Markets Business Development.

Since 2014, he has chaired Winning In Sports and Education (W.I.S.E), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the enrichment and development of youth through education and sports, and has served as treasurer and executive committee member of Dignity Housing since 2011.