This episode of the FEG Insight Bridge features Jonathan Hook, CIO for the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Prior to the Weinberg Foundation, Jonathan had the honor of being the first CIO at not one, but two colleges: the Ohio State University and Baylor University. Over the course of his notable career, Jonathan has built out several investment offices and developed countless asset allocation strategies. In this episode, Jonathan talks about his upcoming retirement, his hiring policies for investment office staff, his approach to portfolio management (particularly in difficult times), and his advice for new CIOs. Jonathan also reflects on the differences between managing endowments for public and private universities. You’ll definitely want to set aside some time for this thoughtful and inspiring episode.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:35 Episode overview
00:01:40 Jonathan’s start in banking
00:03:23 Heading to Baylor and shifting careers
00:06:29 The state of Baylor’s investment office in the early 2000s
00:07:39 How Jonathan became known for being an expert on asset allocation
00:10:27 Changing Baylor’s investment framework
00:15:15 Advice for new CIOs
00:17:40 Leaving Baylor for Ohio State
00:21:38 Differences between public and private universities
00:28:22 Building out the investment team at Ohio State
00:31:02 Choosing analysts for an ENF
00:34:30 What is the Weinberg Foundation?
00:38:01 Weinberg Foundation’s diverse manager program
00:43:29 Jonathan’s plan for retirement and advice for his younger self