NewsmakersMarch 6, 2025

Rice University Promotes John Lawrence to CIO

The fund’s interim investment chief and deputy CIO has been named to the top role.

Reported by Matt Toledo

John Lawrence

The $8.1 billion Rice Management Co., the endowment of Rice University, announced Wednesday the promotion of John Lawrence to CIO. Lawrence succeeds Allison Thacker, who stepped down as president and CIO of the endowment in September 2024 after 13 years in the role.

Lawrence, who joined the Houston-based endowment in 2012, was named deputy CIO in 2022 and interim CIO in October 2024, following Thacker’s resignation. The university worked with executive search firm Spencer Stuart to fill the role.

Lawrence, like his successor, is a Rice alumnus, holding a bachelor of arts degree in managerial studies from the university, as well as an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at the University of California Los Angeles. Prior to joining the Rice endowment, Lawrence worked at Transamerica Investment Management and at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co.

“As a Rice alumnus, I am honored and enthusiastic to take on this role with my alma mater and where I’ve had the privilege to work alongside some of the brightest minds in investment management,” Lawrence said in a statement. “Our goal is to be the preeminent endowment in the world in terms of performance, people and reputation.”

The fund returned 4% in fiscal 2023, and as of June 30, 2024, the endowment had returned 9.6% and 8.6% over the past five- and 10-year periods, respectively.