Mary E. Pugh

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Mary Pugh is the founder and CEO of Pugh Capital.  She began her career at Washington Mutual as an investment analyst. She rose to the level of Senior Vice President of the Portfolio Management Division.  When she and co-founder, Scott Greiwe established the firm in 1991, their vision was to create a diverse Seattle-based fixed income firm that clients would view as a trusted partner.  Washington Mutual became the firm’s first client and opened a $5 million account. Pugh Capital has grown organically over the years and manages over $10 billion in assets for institutional clients.  Under her leadership, Pugh Capital has grown to become the largest African American female owned fixed income firm in the country.  Mary has been an advocate and champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion in both her professional career and personal life. 

From the beginning, the co-founders shared a passion for fixed income investing.  They enjoyed researching macroeconomic dynamics and constructing portfolios that helped clients to achieve their goals.  They also appreciated the chance to work in the investment field in their hometown of Seattle and wanted to create that opportunity for others.  Under Mary’s stewardship, Pugh Capital has built a firm that attracts, develops, inspires, and retains exceptional and diverse talent. We strive to build an organization that employees believe is a “Best Places to Work” and clients view as a preferred firm to work with.  Pugh Capital was honored to be selected by Pension & Investments as one of the Best Places to Work in Money Management in the small manager category from 2018 – 2023.

Mary is committed to using her expertise, talent, and passion to make a positive societal impact. She has a long history of community engagement and enjoys providing opportunities to elevate the success and experiences of young people.  She is on the board of the Rainier Scholars Endowment Fund and the Dean’s Advisory Board for Seattle University’s Albers Business School.  Mary is the Program Chair of the Greater Seattle (WA) Chapter of the Links’ award-winning Building STEAM program which works with middle school girls of color.  Mary is a member of the Seattle Chapter of the International Women’s Forum and on the board of the Washington Roundtable and Washington State Investment Board.  Over the years, she has served on numerous boards including the University of Washington Medical Center, the Seattle Branch of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, Washington Mutual, Cascade Natural Gas, The Seattle Foundation, and the YMCA of Greater Seattle.  Mary graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Economics.

Mary has received numerous awards.  In 2023 Mary was selected by Pension & Investments as one of 65 women across the globe in their inaugural launch of the Influential Women in Institutional Investing Award.  She was recognized by the National Association of Securities Professionals with the Joyce Johnson Award and by the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank with the Grit, Grace, and Gratitude Award. In 2022 she was recognized as one of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Power 100 Executives.  In 2018 she was honored with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Fed Family Distinguished Service Award.  In 2017 she received the Seattle Storm Inspiring Women Award and in 2016 she was honored with Seattle Business Magazine Executive Excellence Award as a CEO of the Year.