WHO: Uri D. Landsman, 35
WHAT: U.S. active growth portfolio manager, overseeing $800 million
WHERE: J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc., New York
WHEN: Began career as a risk arbitrageur and small-cap manager with Sanford C. Bernstein, where he helped launch a growth strategy. Joined Morgan as an analyst in 1993; promoted to head the firm's new U.S. active growth equity strategy in 1997.
WHY: Has proven his strategy works -- returned more than 850 basis points above its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Growth index, in its first year.
Jeff Nipp, head of investment research at Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting, said he was at first skeptical about Morgan's new strategy, but was bowled over by Mr. Landsman's solid research and reasoning, rather than salesmanship.
"It seemed like he was intimately involved in the product," he said.
Despite the roller coaster market, Mr. Landsman has stuck to his style better than most, another consultant said.