Lawrence Playford, CFA, is co-portfolio manager of the JPMorgan Mid Cap Value Fund, the JPMorgan Small Cap Blend Fund, and the JPMorgan Active Small Cap Value ETF. He previously served as the Chief Investment Officer of the U.S. Equity Value team from 2016 to 2021. An employee since 1993, Lawrence joined the Value investment team as an analyst in 2003 and was named a portfolio manager in 2004. Prior to that, Lawrence served as a client portfolio manager working directly with the U.S. Equity Group's investment teams to communicate investment strategy and results to clients. He joined the firm as a financial analyst, performing strategic planning and analysis for the firm's finance department. He began his career at Ernst & Young where he was a Certified Public Accountant. Lawrence holds a B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. in finance from Fordham University. He is a CFA charterholder.