Kimberly Gayle Walker has been named chief investment officer at Washington University, effective Nov. 1.
The appointment was announced by Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton.
Walker comes to the University from her position as president and chief investment officer of Qwest Asset Management Co. in Denver, part of Qwest Communications International Inc., where she oversees $14 billion in retirement and other assets and leads a staff of 23.
“Kim has a broad understanding of the financial markets, well-tuned investment instincts and a disciplined approach to investment management. These strategies and her experience successfully managing large assets will be invaluable to Washington University,” Wrighton said.
As chief investment officer, Walker, a WUSTL alumna, will have a broad range of responsibilities, including: providing leadership for the University’s investment organization; optimizing endowment investment performance; developing and clearly articulating the overall investment philosophy; developing an overall asset allocation policy; using cutting-edge portfolio construction and risk management tools; and overseeing the screening, selection and management of outside managers.
“Kim Walker’s appointment recognizes Washington University’s commitment to having outstanding investment leadership for our endowment and other assets, which total more than $5 billion.
She will head a new entity in the University’s governance structure — the Washington University Investment Management Co.,” said John H. Biggs, a University trustee and chairman of the Washington University Investment Management Co., which oversees the management of the University’s endowment and reports to the Board of Trustees.
“Our intention is to increase the number of investment professionals on our staff, with the goal of enhancing investment returns in the years ahead,” added Biggs, former chairman and CEO of TIAA-CREF, who served as the University’s vice chancellor for administration and finance from 1977-1985.
“I look forward to the opportunity to support and further the mission of such an outstanding institution of learning and research as Washington University,” Walker said.
About Walker
Outside of Qwest, Walker chairs the Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets, a leading national association of corporate pension plan executives. She is a member of the University of Colorado Investment Advisory Committee, the New York Stock Exchange Pension Managers’ Advisory Committee and the CFA Institute. Previously, she served as chair of the Miami University Foundation Board.
Prior to joining Qwest (then US WEST) in 1998, Walker spent 13 years in various finance positions at General Motors, the last eight as an employee of GM’s New York-based investment management subsidiary, GMIMCo.
Her most recent position there was director of equity strategy, where she was responsible for the oversight of a $21 billion public and private U.S. equity portfolio.
Walker holds an M.B.A. in finance, with distinction, from the University of Michigan (1984), a master’s degree in economics from WUSTL (1982), and a bachelor’s degree in economics and public administration from Miami University of Ohio (1980), where she graduated magna cum laude.
She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.