Gareth Williams, CFA, Managing Director and portfolio manager, is head of the Global Specialist Team within the Fundamental Equities division of BlackRock's Portfolio Management Group.

Gareth has managed Global equity strategies at Blackrock since 2007, and is portfolio manager of the International Focus and Future Consumer strategies and the Global Equity Absolute Return fund. Gareth has an unconstrained global research focus and historically served as the team's Director of Research for 5 years through 2022. 

Gareth first joined BlackRock in 2005, including his service with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM), which merged with BlackRock in 2006.

Gareth earned a BSc degree in economics and mathematics from the University of Bristol in 2005.

Sophie Steel, Director and portfolio manager, is a member of the Global Specialist Team within the Fundamental Equities division of BlackRock's Portfolio Management Group.

Sophie is co-portfolio manager of the International Focus and Future Consumer strategies. Sophie's research coverage for the Global Specialist Team spans consumer-facing sectors across the globe. Sophie is also Head of the Consumer Industry Group within Fundamental Equities.

Before joining BlackRock on the graduate programme, Sophie worked for the UK Government and the international affairs think tank, Chatham House. Her papers focused on Chinese international relations. 

Sophie earned an MA degree in Modern History from Oxford University; a postgraduate degree as a Chinese Government scholar in Mandarin from Tsinghua University, Beijing; and a Masters in Finance (MSc) from The London Business School.