Hamilton
College has appointed a new investment chief to lead its endowment as it nears
$1 billion in assets.
Anne Dinneen—who will manage the college’s $922 million endowment as CIO—is currently the director of investments at the James Irvine Foundation in San Francisco.
“[She] is a highly qualified and sophisticated investment manager with a track record of making prudent decisions that maximize growth and diversification,” said Henry Bedford, the chair of Hamilton’s trustee committee on investments.
Dinneen will replace current CIO Peter Tonetti—who has served as investment chief since 2008—when he retires in May.
“It is a great privilege to lead an endowment that contributes so meaningfully to the college’s faculty, staff, and students in their many pursuits,” Dinneen said in a statement. “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to guide the endowment in its next phase.”
The Clinton, New York-based college said it was pleased to have attracted “someone of her talent and skill… to [ensure] Hamilton’s financial future.”
According to a NACUBO and Commonfund study, Hamilton’s endowment gained 24.11% for the year ending June 30, 2014, exceeding the average returns of 15.5% for the 832 surveyed universities.
Over the last five and ten years, the endowment grew at annual rates of 14.87% and 8.63% respectively, the university said.
“The investment function has evolved as our endowment has grown larger and more complex,” said Karen Leach, Hamilton’s vice president for administration and finance. “Hamilton’s endowment has consistently performed well.”
Prior to her 11-year tenure at the James Irvine Foundation, Dinneen worked as a quantitative portfolio manager at Barclays Global Investors, held equity research positions for investment banking firm Thomas Weisel Partners and Banc of America Securities.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dinneen will work from a new office for Hamilton College in New York City.
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