Committees and Reviews

Strong governance underpins the focus of FTSE Russell indexes ensuring that they continue to meet investors’ requirements and lead global standards in indexing. FTSE itself has a long history of collaborating with independent practitioner committees to assist in defining governance standards, with the first committee being set up in 1984 to oversee the management of the FTSE 100 Index.

Why do we have committees?

The independent committee structure supports the FTSE Russell Product Governance Board by helping ensure that all indexes reflect their underlying market and that the Index Methodology (a strict set of rules by which all FTSE Russell indexes are governed) evolve in line with the highest standards of the industry. The committees’ objectives are to support the FTSE Russell Product Governance Board to:

  • ensure that the indexes are managed and calculated according to the Index Methodology, so that they remain impartial, transparent and accurate;
  • evolve the Methodology to ensure that it continues to meet market needs; and
  • advise on the design and creation of new indexes.

FTSE Russell maintains a system of committees to ensure that the indexes accurately reflect the market, remain objective and are representative of clients’ needs. A similar committee structure underpins the management of certain partnership indexes. A table showing the FTSE Russell committee structure can be found here

Who are the committee members, and what do they represent?

FTSE Russell committees are made up of leading investment market professionals from around the world who serve in a personal capacity. Members of the FTSE Russell committees are chosen for their ability to provide strategic input to the development of the indexes. Individuals are drawn from organisations that make use of FTSE Russell indexes, including but not limited to: asset owners, asset managers and investment consultants and is based on their expected contribution toward maintaining the quality of the indexes. Members of FTSE Russell Policy Advisory Board are typically of Chief Investment Officer level or the equivalent.

Although members may be drawn from representative FTSE Russell clients, they are invited on the basis of their personal knowledge, strategic viewpoint and integrity.

How can index users get involved?

Users’ points of view can be expressed directly to FTSE Russell and where appropriate will be referred on to the relevant committees. For items of importance users may be invited to put their point of view directly to the committee.

Committees can be contacted at any time through committeesecretary@ftserussell.com.

Index users may also suggest senior colleagues for a position on one of FTSE Russell's committees for consideration when there is a vacancy.

Market Consultations

With the guidance and direction of FTSE Russell’s independent practitioner committees, FTSE Russell regularly consults the market on changes to the Methodology of its indexes to ensure that the indexes continue to meet investors’requirements and define and lead global standards in indexing.

For details of current and previous consultations, please visit our Market Consultationspage.