Samara Epstein Cohen

Samara Epstein Cohen is a prominent figure in the financial industry, currently serving as the Chief Investment Officer of ETF and Index Investments at BlackRock, a position she has held since January 2022.1 As a Senior Managing Director, she plays a crucial role in shaping BlackRock's ETF and index investment strategies.

Career Highlights

Cohen's career at BlackRock spans several decades, with her first joining the company in 1993 as an analyst in the Institutional Client Business group.1 Her career path includes:

• BlackRock Leadership: Prior to her current role, Cohen held various senior positions at BlackRock, including Head of Global ETF Markets and Co-Head of ETF Markets and Investments.1

• Goldman Sachs Experience: Between her stints at BlackRock, Cohen spent nearly 16 years at Goldman Sachs, where she rose to the position of Managing Director in the Securities Division.1

Education and Expertise

Cohen's educational background combines finance and arts:

• University of Pennsylvania: She earned a dual degree - a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and a BA in Theatre Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences.1
• Harvard Business School: Cohen holds an MBA from this prestigious institution.1

Industry Recognition

Her contributions to the financial sector have been widely recognized:

• Named to Barron's 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2024).1
• Included in American Banker's Most Powerful Women in Finance (2023).1

Leadership and Influence

In her role at BlackRock, Cohen:

• Leads teams responsible for maintaining the market quality and investment integrity of BlackRock's index funds and iShares ETFs.1
• Focuses on modernizing the indexing industry and ETF markets to promote financial well-being.1
• Serves on several important committees within BlackRock, including the GEC Investment Subcommittee and the Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee.1

Cohen is passionate about the transformative power of ETFs, viewing them as an example of market modernization that brings market access and transparency to millions of investors worldwide.2