Kimberly Gayle Walker named WUSTL’s chief investment officer

Kimberly Gayle Walker has been named chief investment officer at Washington University in St. Louis, effective Nov. 1, 2006. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton announced the appointment. Walker comes to the university from her position as president and chief investment officer of Qwest Asset Management Company, part of Qwest Communications International Inc., where she oversees $14 billion in retirement and other assets and leads a staff of 23.

Kim G. Walker
Kim G. Walker

“Kim has a broad understanding of the financial markets, well-tuned investment instincts, and a disciplined approach to investment management. These strategies and her experience successfully managing large assets will be invaluable to Washington University,” said Wrighton.

As chief investment officer, Walker will have a broad range of responsibilities including: providing leadership for the university’s investment organization; optimizing endowment investment performance; developing and clearly articulating the overall investment philosophy; developing an overall asset allocation policy; using cutting-edge portfolio construction and risk management tools; and overseeing the screening, selection and management of outside managers.

“Kim Walker’s appointment recognizes Washington University’s commitment to having outstanding investment leadership for our endowment and other assets, which total more than $5 billion. She will head a new entity in the university’s governance structure — the Washington University Investment Management Company,” said John H. Biggs, a university trustee and chairman of the Washington University Investment Management Company, which oversees management of the university’s endowment and reports to the board of trustees.

“Our intention is to increase the number of investment professionals on our staff, with the goal of enhancing investment returns in the years ahead,” added Biggs, former chairman and CEO of TIAA-CREF, who served as Washington University’s vice chancellor for administration and finance from 1977 to 1985.

“I look forward to the opportunity to support and further the mission of such an outstanding institution of learning and research as Washington University,” said Walker.

About Kimberly Gayle Walker

Outside of Qwest, Walker is chairman of the Committee on Investment of Employee Benefit Assets (CIEBA), a leading national association of corporate pension plan executives. She is a member of the University of Colorado Investment Advisory Committee, the New York Stock Exchange Pension Managers’ Advisory Committee, and the CFA Institute. Previously, she served as chair of the Miami University Foundation Board.

Prior to joining Qwest (then US WEST) in 1998, Walker spent 13 years in various finance positions at General Motors, the last eight as an employee of GM’s New York-based investment management subsidiary, GMIMCo. Her most recent position there was director of equity strategy, where she was responsible for the oversight of a $21 billion public and private U.S. equity portfolio.

Walker holds an MBA in finance, with distinction, from the University of Michigan, an MA in economics from Washington University in St. Louis, and a BA in economics and public administration from Miami University of Ohio, where she graduated magna cum laude. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.