Summary
The Trustees of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) have elected Donald Koch as chief investment officer and a vice president of HHMI.
Donald Koch has been elected by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Board of Trustees to serve as the Institute’s new chief investment officer and a vice president of HHMI. Koch, HHMI’s managing director of research and portfolio strategy since 2013, will succeed Landis Zimmerman, who has served as vice president and chief investment officer since 2004 and oversaw significant and steady growth of the endowment.
Starting on June 15, Koch will be responsible for managing the Institute’s endowment. At the end of fiscal year 2020, HHMI reported $21.2 billion in consolidated diversified net assets, which represents the second largest philanthropic endowment in the United States. In addition to overseeing HHMI’s investment portfolio, Koch will lead a team of roughly 30 investment professionals.
“For more than a decade, Don has been a key member of HHMI’s investment team with a proven track record of success,” says HHMI President Erin O’Shea. “He’s an outstanding addition to HHMI’s senior leadership team.”
Koch has been part of the team responsible for investing HHMI’s endowment since 2009. He has worked closely with the chief investment officer and HHMI’s Board of Trustees to help determine asset allocation and make investment decisions across the portfolio, while also leading research on global markets and managing and developing a team of associates.
“I am honored to lead this talented investment team and build on our legacy of success,” says Koch. “HHMI plays an important role in advancing scientific discovery and science education and I look forward to partnering with the board, senior leadership, and my investment colleagues in support of this critical mission.”
Prior to joining HHMI, Koch worked as an investment analyst at Lane Five Capital Management, where he was responsible for individual stock and credit investments, in addition to positions with Morgan Stanley and Gryphon Investors. Koch earned an MBA from Columbia University and a BBA in finance and accounting from the University of Michigan. He is currently a trustee of the Ivymount Foundation and serves on the Investment Committee of the Norwood School.
David Barrett Partners, a search firm specializing in investment and wealth management recruiting, handled the search.
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HHMI is the largest private biomedical research institution in the nation. Our scientists make discoveries that advance human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. We also invest in transforming science education into a creative, inclusive endeavor that reflects the excitement of research. HHMI’s headquarters are located in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside Washington, DC.