WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Jan. 13, 2016) – Teresa Heitsenrether, managing director and global head of Custody & Fund Services for J.P. Morgan, will be the keynote speaker at Monmouth University’s winter commencement ceremony and will receive an honorary Doctor of Economics degree on Friday, Jan. 15, at 1 p.m. at the Monmouth University Multipurpose Activity Center. Nearly 450 graduates, 47 percent of whom are master’s and doctoral degree recipients, are expected to participate in the ceremony.
“We are honored to have one of the world’s most successful women in finance share her wisdom with our graduates,” said Monmouth University President Paul R. Brown. “In an industry long dominated by men, Teresa Heitsenrether has set the standard as a role model and a mentor while demonstrating leadership and excellence that has resulted in a remarkably successful career.”
Heitsenrether cited the importance of determination in her professional success and welcomed the opportunity to share her insights with the graduates.
“Determination in the face of challenge is how you learn and grow and how you reach your full potential. That’s an important message for both graduates entering the workforce for the first time as well as those earning advanced degrees to hone their talent,” said Heitsenrether. “There is nothing that is so challenging, so difficult, that can’t be mastered if you are determined. Yes, it will require hard work and yes, there will be times that you fail along the way.”
One of the most senior women in investment banking, Heitsenrether is responsible for overseeing a business that provides the world’s largest companies and institutions with custody, fund administration and accounting, hedge fund, information and operations services. J.P. Morgan has nearly $20 trillion in assets under custody.
Beginning her career at J.P. Morgan in 1987, Heitsenrether has held various posts in areas including global funding and liquidity management, fixed income sales, repo financing, and global custody. She is the chairwoman and CEO of J.P. Morgan Clearing Corp., a U.S. broker‐dealer that provides clearance, safekeeping, and financing of customer assets.
As an active member of the J.P. Morgan Women’s Network, Heitsenrether strives to support new recruits because she herself has benefited from what she describes as “wonderful mentorship.” Among her accolades, she has been recognized as one of the 50 Leading Women in Hedge Funds by The Financial Journal and one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Europe, Middle East, and Africa by Financial News. In 2009, she was elected to the Academy of Women Leaders by the YWCA of New York City and was honored by that organization as part of its Academy of Women Leaders Class of 2010.
Heitsenrether earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from Fordham University. She and her husband, Robert, live in Morristown, N.J. with their two daughters.