Janessa Cox-Irvin
9 Years at AB|21 Years of Experience
Janessa Cox-Irvin is the Global Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and Corporate Citizenship at AB and is a member of the Operating Committee. In her role, she partners closely with the CEO, other executive committee members and the People team to lead AB’s global DEI strategy and provides thought leadership on advancing efforts that align with business priorities, meet the needs of a diverse range of clients and positively impact over 4,500 AB employees worldwide. Since the 2018 headquarters relocation to Nashville, Tennessee, Cox-Irvin has led the development of a formalized DEI philosophy for Nashville, including a framework for community and employee engagement and corporate partnership. She also oversees the firm’s expanded community and civic engagement and philanthropy strategies.
As DEI continues to be a critical focus area for many clients and prospects globally, she has successfully positioned AB’s approach to DEI as a differentiating factor. Cox-Irvin and her team have personally been involved in multiple client proposals and mandates. Known for her dynamism, she creates spaces for authentic discussions on challenging topics and often serves in an advisory capacity for clients, providing thought-provoking, practical solutions for organizations and individuals at various stages of the DEI journey. Given the increased demands on businesses to take a more transparent and vocal stance on any number of societal issues, in 2022 Cox-Irvin formed and currently chairs AB’s Social Response Committee (SRC). The SRC’s remit is to review and direct AB’s public or internal response to social issues that impact colleagues, clients and communities. Under her leadership the SRC has helped AB successfully navigate thoughtful responses to important social issues.
Prior to joining AB in 2015, Cox-Irvin spent 11 years at Deutsche Bank, where she served as diversity and inclusion manager for the Americas region, responsible for integrating diversity practices within the corporate banking and securities and transaction banking businesses globally. She holds a BBA in human resource management from Pace University.
Cox-Irvin’s thought leadership has been featured in Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Institutional Investor, Forbes, Ignites, FundFire and CNBC and she has been recognized in O, The Oprah Magazine for her commitment to advancing women in leadership. She was a 2018 Council of Urban Professionals Catalyst in Finance awardee, named to Crain’s 2020 list of Rising Stars in Banking & Finance and 2022 list of Notable Black Leaders, and the 2022 Diversity Woman Media’s Elite 100 list. In 2023 Cox-Irvin was named as a finalist for Top Diversity & Inclusion Officer by Crain’s and received the Changemaker Champion Honoree award from the YWCA of the City of New York. Additionally, she is a member of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council, the Investment Company Institute Diversity & Inclusion Committee and the Institutional Investor Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Institute Advisory Board. Cox-Irvin proudly serves on the board of directors of Dress for Success Worldwide.
Location: New York
Published Work
Senior AB leaders share their perspectives on the attributes that make a corporate culture sustainable, the ways that companies can strengthen cultural bonds and how the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the importance of cultural adaptability.
Asset management has long been a male-dominated industry–but things are beginning to change. That's because the best managers are devoting considerable time and resources to changing the situation.