New York, NY September 3, 2020 — Kim Lew, vice president and chief investment officer of Carnegie Corporation of New York, who helped maximize the investment portfolio of the Corporation’s $3.5 billion endowment into a leading performer in the nonprofit sector, will step down in October.
Lew is leaving the Corporation after 13 years to assume the position of president and chief executive officer of Columbia Investment Management Company, where she will be responsible for overseeing Columbia University’s endowment of more than $10 billion. Lew will join Columbia as of November 2, 2020, succeeding Peter Holland, who is retiring after 17 years of service.
“We commend Columbia University for its wisdom in recruiting Kim Lew. She has been an outstanding chief investment officer, an invaluable colleague, and an integral part of the foundation’s mission, playing an important role in its central administration and strategic program decisions,” said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York, speaking on behalf of the board of trustees, including its chair Governor Thomas H. Kean, vice chair Janet L. Robinson, investment committee chair Anne Tatlock, and the entire staff of the Corporation. “Carnegie Corporation of New York has a long history as an incubator for executive talent and leadership, and Kim is a brilliant example. We are saddened to see her leave, but we are grateful for her distinguished service and know that she will make tremendous contributions to the success of Columbia University.”
Lew has served Carnegie Corporation of New York with distinction, innovation, and creativity since 2007 when she joined the organization as director of investments in charge of its private equity investments. Lew was promoted to vice president and co-chief investment officer before being named vice president and chief investment officer in 2016.
At Carnegie Corporation of New York, Lew has developed an exceptional investment team, strengthening its focus on alternatives such as private equity, hedge funds, and emerging markets exposure. She has prioritized working with diverse teams and investment firms while implementing an investment strategy underscored by long-term performance, risk management, and due diligence.
Her accomplishments were recognized by the financial services industry earlier this year when Lew was inducted into the Wall Street Hall of Fame by the New York chapter of the National Association of Securities Professionals, the highest honor bestowed by the organization to acknowledge individuals committed to encouraging diversity in the field. In 2019, Lew was honored as CIO of the year by Institutional Investor Institute, a part of Institutional Investor magazine, and ranked 16th on CIO magazine’s “Power 100” list of top CIOs in the world.
Reflecting on her tenure at the Corporation, Lew said, “Carnegie Corporation has given me more than I could have ever imagined. It afforded me the opportunity to learn every asset class and develop into a recognized leader in the foundation and endowment investing community. Moreover, I was able to contribute to the success of one of the most storied foundations in the world, investing in knowledge that strengthens democracy, education, and international peace, providing an inestimable experience for which I am deeply grateful. In taking on a new challenge with Columbia Investment Management Company, I will have the opportunity to leverage the skills that I have developed throughout my career in service to another phenomenal institution.”
After earning a BS from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Lew began her career at Chemical Bank where she worked as an account officer and head of the credit department. Prior to joining the Corporation, Lew worked at the Ford Foundation where she began as a technology portfolio strategist before becoming senior manager of private equity investments.
Lew serves on numerous boards including Ariel Investments Mutual Funds, TIFF Advisory Services, Girls Who Invest, and the investment committees of the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Gallery of Art, and and Wesleyan University.
For more information, please email Celeste Ford, Director of External Relations: CFC@carnegie.org.