Hedge Fund Rising Stars Out to Give Back

The hedge fund industry clearly creates great riches for those who participate in it. Giving some back, to the industry or the community, is no less important for many of those with a lot to give. The 2012 Hedge Fund Rising Stars lineup contains more than a few examples of individuals engaged in charitable largesse. Simon Krinsky, a partner at fund-of-hedge-funds firm Hall Capital Partners, is a board member of an organization that works with low-­income high school students, providing year-­round mentoring and summer travel opportunities and adventures, as well as access to university campuses and other learning environments. Jason Karp, co-chief investment officer of hedge fund firm Carlson Capital, has created scholarships in his parents’ names for both his high school and his university, providing aid to students who otherwise could not afford the cost of tuition. Howard Shainker, co-­founder of hedge fund firm Bow Street, sits on the advisory board of a not-for-profit organization that defends environmental and human rights.

Of course, philanthropy is not always an indicator of virtue. Yet Krinsky, Karp and Shainker are not alone in trying to make a positive difference in their industry, their community and, often, the larger world.

Our search for this year’s Rising Stars began with a February call for nominations. These were vetted by ­Institutional Investor’s editorial staff based on additional research, reporting and observations. More names were solicited and vetted in turn. Every year the bar to inclusion on the list gets higher, and this year’s roster, II’s third annual, is no exception.

Six members of this year’s list work as investment officials of pension plans or endowments, including two — ­Carrie Lo and Neil ­Messing — who went from working in the private sector, at hedge funds or funds of hedge funds, to the public sector, where they are helping public pension funds in ­California and New York make their first hedge fund commitments. If hedge fund investing helps preserve capital and grow the returns of pension funds, endowments and other long-term capital pools, then they really can achieve a greater good.

With additional reporting by Ben Baris.

Hedge Fund Rising Stars
NAME	FIRM
Rick Gerson	Falcon Edge Capital
David Ben-Ur	Caxton Alternative Management LP
Atwood 'Porter' Collins	Seawolf Capital
Javier Dyer	Permal Group
Adam Fisher	Commonwealth Opportunity Capital
Grace Gu	BlackRock
Jason Karp	Carlson Capital
Akiva Katz	Bow Street
Laurie Katz	GoldenTree Asset Management
Ingrid Kiefer	Canyon Partners
Simon Krinsky	Hall Capital Partners
Carrie Lo	California State Teachers Employees Retirement System
Drew McKnight	Fortress Investment Group
Marina Mekhlis	Rocaton Investment Advisors
Neil Messing	Bureau of Asset Management, New York City
Gideon Nieuwoudt	Silver Creek Capital Management
Ricky Nardis	UBS Alternative Investment Solutions
Vinay Nair	Ada Investments
Sean Murphy	Game Creek Capital
Kimberly Mounts	MAP Alternative Asset Management Company
Tony Waskiewicz	Sisters of Mercy Health Systems
Andrew Tsai	Chalkstream Capital Group
David Solomon	Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Howard Shainker	Bow Street
Danny Sachnowitz	Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust
Justin Press	BTIG
Dean Curnutt	Macro Risk Advisors
James Grossman	Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System
Chris Paolino	Hartford Investment Management
Mick McGuire	Marcato Capital Management