Verger is pleased to announce the appointment of Craig Thomas as Co-Chief Investment Officer of the firm. Verger serves non-profit organizations including endowments and foundations through its philosophy to “Protect, Perform, Provide” with the goal of preserving assets across market cycles while consistently growing purchasing power, enabling organizations to meet their goals in perpetuity. As a founding member of the firm and having served as Managing Director of Investments as well as a key member of the leadership team since inception, Craig will join Jim Dunn, Verger’s CEO and CIO, in leading the investment strategy of the $2.3 billion OCIO.
“Craig has been foundational to Verger’s success to-date,” said Jim. “He’s a skilled, well-respected allocator with depth and stability across multiple market environments. Craig has historically shown the ability to deliver strong, stable, risk-adjusted returns for our clients, while leading and developing a talented team of investment professionals. His integrity and grit are assets to our culture and to the way we serve clients.”
Prior to his role at Verger, Craig spent over ten years as Director of Investments for Wake Forest University’s Office of Investments. He brings his experience in serving as an institutional investor and his passion for supporting the missions of endowments and foundations to his approach. Craig shares his gift of mentorship with Verger’s interns each semester, and recently served as an ambassador to Girls Who Invest, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the number of women in asset management. He has been honored by aiCIO magazine, is a CFA® charterholder, and serves on several investment advisory boards.
“I am honored to have the confidence of Jim, our board, and the Verger team to continue building on our success. I am pleased with how our portfolios have successfully navigated the market environments of the last two years, both capturing the upside and protecting on the downside. I look forward to working with my investment colleagues as we seek to generate attractive returns in support of our clients’ outstanding missions.”
Jim Dunn, who has served as Verger’s CEO and CIO since launching the firm in 2014, will retain the CEO role and share the Co-CIO title. “This shift provides an opportunity to showcase and develop the incredible talent we have at Verger while giving me more time to focus on the strategic vision and long-term growth of the firm. It’s the next step in living our mission to invest in the lives of others as we grow and expand our team.”
As Verger’s Co-CIO, Craig will continue to oversee asset allocation, portfolio construction, and manager research for all assets managed by the firm. Verger’s core offering is a globally diversified portfolio that includes a large allocation to non-traditional investments such as hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, and real assets. He is a passionate mentor and leader and is dedicated to the success of his team, the firm, and most importantly, the institutions he serves.