BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA), the asset management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), announced today that James Ross, chairman of the Global SPDR business at SSGA, has been honored by ETF.com with its Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was announced at the ETF.com Awards Dinner presented by Inside ETFs, which was held in New York on March 30, 2017.

ETF.com’s Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals for “outstanding long-term contributions to ETF investor outcomes.” In recognizing Ross for this distinguished award, the organization acknowledged his leadership, character, integrity and overall contributions to the ETF industry since its inception.

Ross joined State Street’s fund administration group in July 1992, and a few months later he was tapped to assist with a new project – the launch of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). This was the start of a decades-long commitment to helping all investors better understand and access the benefits of ETFs. In his current role as chairman of the Global SPDR business, Ross leads State Street’s engagement with ETF stakeholders including regulators, mutual fund and ETF boards of directors, industry associations, key clients and partners. He is also responsible for advancing the firm’s long-term ETF strategy, innovation and education. In addition to these roles, Ross serves as chairman of the Investment Company Institute’s (ICI) Exchange Traded Funds Committee and is also on the ICI’s Board of Governors.

“For more than two decades, ETFs have helped transform the investment landscape by dramatically improving access to a wide range of asset classes and strategies for countless advisors, institutions and retail investors,” said Ross. “I’m humbled to be honored with this Lifetime Achievement Award from ETF.com.”

The ETF.com Awards recognize the people, companies and products that are impacting the industry and investors. Winners are selected following a nomination process that incorporates the insights and opinions of leaders throughout the industry.

“We are all extremely proud to see Jim recognized for everything he has done to promote responsible innovation in our industry,” said Ronald P. O’Hanley, CEO of SSGA. "Whether it is his pioneering work on the team that created the first ETF, his work to educate investors or his continued efforts to make equity markets stronger, safer and more resilient, few have done more to reimagine the future of investing than Jim."

About State Street Global Advisors

For nearly four decades, State Street Global Advisors has been committed to helping financial professionals and those who rely on them achieve their investment objectives. We partner with institutions and financial professionals to help them reach their goals through a rigorous, research-driven process spanning both active and index disciplines. We take pride in working closely with our clients to develop precise investment strategies, including our pioneering family of SPDR ETFs. With trillions* in assets under management, our scale and global footprint provide access to markets and asset classes, and allow us to deliver expert insights and investment solutions.

State Street Global Advisors is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation.

*Assets under management were $2.47 trillion as of December 31, 2016. AUM reflects approx. $30.62 billion (as of December 31, 2016) with respect to which State Street Global Markets, LLC (SSGM) serves as marketing agent; SSGM and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated.

The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without State Street express written consent.

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(C) 2017 State Street Corporation - All Rights Reserved

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