Hedge fund executive named as director of ND Institute for Global Investing

Kevin W. Burke, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and member of Notre Dame’s Wall Street Leadership Committee, has been named the first managing director of the Notre Dame Institute of Global Investing at the University’s Mendoza College of Business.  Burke retired as President of Conatus Capital in December 2015.

Burke will be responsible for implementing the vision of the Institute and managing its operations, including developing and directing curriculum and programs, mentoring students, and recruiting and coordinating faculty to participate in the Institute’s programs. He will work in collaboration with the Institute’s faculty director, Finance Professor Shane Corwin.

“Hiring Kevin represents a significant step toward the Institute’s goal of becoming the premiere investment management research and education program in the world,” Corwin said. “His industry experience and expertise, combined with his commitment to Notre Dame, make him the perfect choice to help lead and build the Institute.”

The Notre Dame Institute for Global Investing was established in 2015 at the Mendoza College of Business with a $20 million gift from James Parsons, founder of New York City-based Junto Capital Management, and Dr. Carrie Quinn, an assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai Hospital and executive director of the Mount Sinai Parenting Center, both graduates of Notre Dame. 

The Institute’s mission includes adding depth and breadth to Mendoza’s finance curriculum; expanding internship and career placement opportunities for undergraduate and MBA students; providing experiential learning opportunities both in the U.S. and abroad; leveraging key partnerships among the college, the Notre Dame Investment Office and the University’s extensive alumni network; and furthering faculty research and thought leadership in areas related to global investment management.

“I am thrilled and honored to join such a talented group of individuals,” said Burke. “The challenges facing the investment management industry have never been greater, and the University and the Institute are uniquely positioned to offer an innovative curriculum that will prepare tomorrow’s leaders to have, not only the skill, but the courage, integrity and resolve to excel in this dynamic environment.”

Burke joined Conatus Capital, an investment management firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, at its inception in 2007 as a partner and member of the management committee. During his tenure at Conatus, he helped guide the firm’s business strategy, capital raising, staff development, risk management and trading, and, as a senior member of the investment team, advised on portfolio construction.

Prior to joining Conatus Capital, Burke was employed at Merrill Lynch from 1994-2007, holding leadership positions in equity markets in both the U.S. and Europe. He previously worked for Kemper Financial Services and The Chicago Corporation.

Burke earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 1994 and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Notre Dame in 1989.