International Growth Equity

Management

John Pihlblad
Managing Director, Advanced Research

John Pihlblad

Managing Director, Advanced Research

John joined the company in 2000 as a portfolio manager and led the development of the firm's proprietary Global Research Platform. He was named managing director of our Advanced Research team in early 2018. He overseas our dedicated team of quantitative research specialists, as well as our growing community of university and expert network resources, in collaboration with the Principal Data Science team. John has over 35 years of investment experience, including 25 years of experience in managing international and global equities mandates. Previously, he was a partner and co-founder of GlobeFlex Capital. Prior to that, John was a portfolio manager at Nicholas Applegate, where he developed one of the first global systematic investment processes in the industry. John was also director of equity research at Boatmen's Trust Company. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute.

Paul Blankenhagen III
Portfolio Manager

Paul Blankenhagen III

Portfolio Manager

Paul is a portfolio manager for Principal Global Equities. He is a portfolio manager for the firm’s international (global ex-U.S.), regional European and emerging global leaders strategies. He is also active in company research, focusing on the international banking sector. Paul joined the firm in 1992 and has been a member of the international equity team since 1995. He became a portfolio manager in 2000. He received an MBA from Drake University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Iowa State University. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute.

Juliet Cohn
Portfolio Manager

Juliet Cohn

Portfolio Manager

Juliet is a portfolio manager for Principal Global Equities, based in London. She is a portfolio manager for the firm’s international (global ex-U.S.), regional European and emerging global leaders strategies. Juliet is also active in company research focusing on the international telecommunications and utility sectors. She joined the firm in 2003 as a portfolio manager for European equities. Prior to joining Principal, Juliet served as a director and senior portfolio manager at Allianz Dresdner Asset Management (formerly Kleinwort Benson) where she managed European and International portfolios for institutional and retail clients. She has also managed funds in the EEMEA (Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa) region. Prior to that she was a fund manager at the London firms of Capel Cure Myers, Rowe Price Fleming and Schroders. Juliet received a Bachelor's degree in mathematics from Trinity College, Cambridge University.

Mark Nebelung
Portfolio Manager

Mark Nebelung

Portfolio Manager

Mark is a portfolio manager for Principal Global Equities, based in Boston. He co-leads the firm’s global systematic solutions team. In this role, he is involved in all aspects of quantitative research, portfolio management and strategy development for the firm’s systematic equity strategies. Mark joined the firm in 1997 and has served as a member of the equities team since 2003, having previously been based in the U.S. and Japan and the United Kingdom. His background also includes prior actuarial and investment positions in Canada and Australia. Mark received bachelor's degrees in actuarial science and statistics from the University of Waterloo, Canada. Mark has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (FIA) and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA).