Donald Sanya is a managing director and the head of RBC Global Asset Management’s U.S. institutional business. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Sanya will the first Black CEO of Royal Bank’s US asset-management business.
In his new role, Sanya will seek to deepen relationships with existing institutional clients, pursue additional growth in assets from financial intermediaries such as registered investment advisers and drive awareness of RBC BlueBay Asset Management, the unit’s fixed-income manager.
He succeeds Mike Lee who is retiring at the end of July. Sanya will report to Damon Williams, CEO of RBC Global Asset Management.
Prior to taking on this role, Donald was the head of U.S. Distribution. He is also member of the RBC GAM Leadership Committee, the U.S. Executive Committee, and the North America Management Committee.
Donald Sanya is registered as an Associated Person and Branch Manager with the National Futures Association.
Prior to joining the organization in 2014, he was responsible for developing and managing relationships for a major asset management firm’s Institutional Client Business group, where he assisted investors with portfolio allocations across traditional and alternative asset classes.
Donald Sanya began his career in the financial industry in 2005.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, business and mathematics from Gordon College and holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses. Donald is a CFA charter holder and a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society (BSAS).
Sanya is also registered as an Associated Person and Branch Manager with the National Futures Association.
According to a report by the Financial Post on June 4, 2024, RBC boasts about $35 billion in assets across equity and credit strategies in emerging markets.
In late 2022, the firm launched a mutual fund focused on emerging markets excluding China, but also offers China-dedicated strategies.
“When you think of the less-efficient markets, you really need an active manager to not only focus on how much money you’re making in the up markets but protecting you on the downside during times of volatility in markets like EM,” Sanya said.
Sanya has been critical in winning new US mandates and expanding the business’s asset base.
