Trends In Alternative Allocations;
A Chief Investment Officer's Perspective
Join us for a panel discussion with Larry Johansen (NHRS), Ken Souza (USF) and Jim Dunn (Wake Forest/ Verger Capital) as we explore institutional trends in alternative allocations.
The discussion will be followed by a reception.
Moderator
John Meyer
VP, Institutional Sales
Alternatives & Customized Strategies at Loomis, Sayles & Company
Speakers
Jim Dunn
Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer
Wake Forest/Verger Capital
Ken Souza
Director of Foundation Investments
University of South Florida
Larry Johansen
Director of Investments
New Hampshire Retirement System
Program
5.30pm Registration and Reception
6.00pm Panel Discussion
7.00pm Reception
Speaker Bios:
John Meyer, CFA, CAIA, Vice President
Loomis, Sayles & Company
John Meyer is a vice president of Loomis, Sayles & Company and member of the firm’s institutional services group, responsible for new business development and strategic product positioning in the public fund channel. He is also a member of the alternatives and custom strategies (ACS) group, focusing on the development and distribution of the firm’s alternative investment strategies as well as customized investment solutions to help clients achieve their objectives. Previously, John was in the product marketing group where he worked on developing marketing strategy for Loomis Sayles’ absolute return investment products. Prior to joining Loomis Sayles’ in 2012, he was the primary investment risk specialist on the fixed income and absolute return portfolios at Pioneer Investments. John began his investment industry career at State Street Global Advisors, where he focused on multi-asset class portfolio management for institutional non-profit clients.
John has earned the Financial Risk Manager designation. He sits on the Alternative Investments sub-committee of the Boston Security Analyst Society and the CAIA Executive Committee. He earned a BS from Trinity College and is co-president of the Trinity Club of Boston.
Larry Johansen, Director of Investments
New Hampshire Retirement System
Prior to his appointment as Director of Investments at the New Hampshire Retirement System in January 2010, served various positions at the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System: Managing Director – External Asset Management, Corporate Governance & Private Equity; Securities Investment Officer...oversees the Retirement System’s securities investment portfolio, which includes domestic and international equities, domestic fixed income, short-term (cash equivalents), and alternative investments; and Actuary for the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System...joined the staff of the Retirement System in 1973 and was appointed Actuary in August, 1989...The Retirement System had assets of approximately $99.1 billion, 264,000 active members and 130,000 retired members...The Actuary’s Office is responsible for all the actuarial work for the Retirement System...served as the Retirement System’s liaison with its investment consultants...in that capacity, coordinated the development of the asset allocation policy, investment performance measurement and monitoring, investment manager evaluations, and investment manager searches...a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries, an Enrolled Actuary under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, a Fellow of the Conference of Consulting Actuaries, a Member of the Society of Pension Actuaries, and an Associate of the Society of Actuaries...serves on several Committees of the American Academy of Actuaries and served as Chairman of the Academy’s Task Force on The Public Perception of Pension Actuaries and Chairman of the Academy’s Committee on Pension Accounting...served on the Pension Task Force for the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and continues to advise them on pension and related issues...November of 1996, was elected as a Director of the American Academy of Actuaries... author of Tax Policy vs. Pension Policy - Are They Really Tax Expenditures? - Contingencies, November/December 1993 and Steps to Using Investment Consultants - Pension Management, June 1995.
Ken Souza
Director of Foundation Investments
University of South Florida
Ken Souza joined the USF Foundation in December of 2008, and has 16 years of financial experience. He had previously worked for the asset management arm of Fidelity Investments and in insurance portfolio investing for New York Life. As the Foundation’s investment director, he oversees over $500 million in endowment and operating pool assets. This role includes coordinating investment initiatives and research with the Foundation’s investment consultant, conducting due diligence on current and prospective managers, and reporting to the Investment Committee.
Ken graduated from Merrimack College in 2000 and obtained an MBA from Suffolk University in 2005. Ken also serves on the advisory board for the Student Managed Investment Fund in the USF Muma College of Business as well as the investment committees for the Hillsborough Education Foundation and the Tampa Bay History Center Foundation.
Jim Dunn
Chief Executive and Chief Investments Officer
Wake Forest/Verger Capital
Jim Dunn is Chief Executive and Chief Investment Officer of Verger Capital, an outsourced-CIO investment advisor exclusively for non-profit organizations. Jim oversees all investment decisions and is responsible for setting the course for the company, leading our corporate strategy and ensuring that Verger remains competitively positioned to serve our partners’ needs in an increasingly complex and volatile market environment.
Previously, Jim was Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer at Wake Forest University, responsible for investment of the University's endowment, working capital and life income assets of over $1.4 billion. Prior to joining Wake Forest, Jim served as Managing Director at Wilshire Associates Inc., and Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager for Wilshire Funds Management, the money management arm of Wilshire Associates. At Wilshire, Jim was responsible for providing leadership on asset allocation, investment policy and investment manager selection. Jim served as the Chairman of the Wilshire Funds Management Investment Committee and served as Portfolio Manager for all of Wilshire Fund Management’s alternative investment portfolios.