August 26, 2024
TMRS Hires Senior Private Market Leaders
TMRS Chief Investment Officer Yup Kim announced today that Philip Hunter O’Brien, Amol Deshpande and Isidora Stankovic will join TMRS.
In announcing the news, Kim said, “I am incredibly excited to partner with Philip, Amol and Isidora to strengthen our global partner relationships, amplify our direct investment capabilities and take the private markets program to new heights on behalf of TMRS’ many members, retirees, and beneficiaries.”
Philip Hunter O’Brien will join as Managing Director, Head of Private Equity, and serve as a member of the staff investment committee. Previously, he led technology and consumer direct private equity investments for Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Prior to CDPQ, he led the North American direct Private Equity investment practice for the Abu Dhabi Investment Council. Before ADIC, O’Brien was an investor at LLCP and The Carlyle Group’s U.S. Buyout Fund, after beginning his career as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank. O’Brien earned an MBA from Columbia Business School and graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University. He is an Associate Member of the Economic Club of New York and a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Amol Deshpande will join as Managing Director, Head of Direct Investments, and serve as a member of the staff investment committee. Prior to joining TMRS, he served as a Managing Director and management committee member of Redesign Health, where he made investments with a mission to accelerate healthcare innovation. He previously held roles at Soros Fund Management, Luminus Management and JLL Partners, where he invested in private and public businesses across multiple sectors, including healthcare, industrials and technology. Deshpande began his career advising leading technology companies on M&A and capital markets activities at Morgan Stanley in Menlo Park, CA, and received his B.A. with concentrations in applied mathematics, economics and finance from Northwestern University.
Isidora Stankovic will join as Director of Private Equity. Prior to joining TMRS, she was on the Private Equity team in London at Searchlight Capital Partners, a transatlantic private equity firm with $15 billion in assets under management, where she was responsible for the evaluation, due diligence, execution and monitoring of investments. Before joining Searchlight, Stankovic held positions on the Private Equity team at BC Partners in London and in the Financial Services and Natural Resources Groups of Goldman Sachs’ investment banking division in London and Houston. Stankovic earned a B.A. in Economics and History from Yale University, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She is fluent in three languages.
“I am thrilled to welcome these three accomplished investment professionals to TMRS’ team of award-winning portfolio managers," said TMRS Executive Director David Wescoe. "TMRS and its Members will be well served by their efforts.”
August 22, 2024
Joel Palmer Named 2024 NextGen Leader by Pensions & Investments
Joel was selected for Pension & Investments’ 2024 class of 15 NextGen Leaders in the defined contribution industry. As a NextGen leader, Joel attended a two-day summit to engage with, and learn from, industry leaderson topics central to institutional investment success.
Joel was selected from a nationwide search of plan sponsors in their first decade of experience as an institutional investor who are distinctly equipped to benefit from direct engagement with industry insiders and peer-to-peer networking. Joel’s selection highlights his position as a rising star within TMRS and the institutional investment ecosystem.
"Joel leverages his career and experience at some of the most innovative tech companies to contribute to TMRS’ private markets portfolio in an impactful and truly differentiated way. Joel is an incredibly reliable colleague and culture carrier for TMRS. We are so lucky to benefit from his work ethic, positive demeanor, and can-do attitude." - David Wescoe, Executive Director, TMRS
August 12, 2024
Darren Schlissel Honored on CIO Magazine's 2024 NextGen List
TMRS is excited to share that Darren Schlissel, Senior Director and Head of Credit is honored on CIO Magazine's 2024 NextGen list. Darren’s forward-thinking approach, exceptional talent, and commitment to securing the best investment outcomes for our members are a testament to the expertise of the TMRS investment program. We're fortunate to have such a rising star on our team.
Congratulations, Darren! Read more about the 2024 CIO NextGen here.
July 25, 2024
Markets Group Recognizes Yup Kim as 2024 Elite 100 CIO
The Elite 100 is an esteemed list celebrating 100 Chief Investment Officers from Public Pension Funds, Endowments, Foundations, and Corporate Pension Funds. Each honoree is a commendable industry leader, recognized for their exceptional contributions and innovative strategies.
These leaders have demonstrated remarkable resilience and foresight, whether by safeguarding their funds during the market crash of 2022, achieving critical benchmarks through innovative approaches, or successfully diversifying their investment portfolios.
They have navigated mission-driven mandates and unique investment challenges with wisdom and poise, often maintaining a steady course amid external pressures. Our list also highlights those who have led their organizations through political and resource-constrained environments and honors rising stars who have shown extraordinary potential. The Elite 100 acknowledges their leadership, vision, and significant contributions to the investment industry.
June 12, 2024
Monica Huffer Receives 2024 Rising Star Award
Monica Huffer was honored as one of five 2024 Outstanding Women in Texas Government by Governor Abbott and the Governor’s Commission for Women.
Monica not only excels in her role as an investor but also dedicates countless hours and resources to organizations focused on serving those in need. She is an active member of the Junior League of Austin, a member and financial sponsor of Compassion International, supports the International Justice Mission, and serves on the grant finance committee and grant review board of Impact Austin, a women's collective giving organization, funding Central Texas nonprofits.
Executive Director David Wescoe said, “Monica's academic career, her rapid professional advancement and achievement, and her numerous community activities…make her a deserving recipient of the 2024 Rising Star award. And if the past is indeed prologue, Monica's potential for future success is unlimited.”
“It is incredibly rare for an investor to shine brightly on all elements of humility, character, dedication and intellectual curiosity - Monica is that rare talent. Her extraordinary commitment to TMRS members helps our entire team become better world-class investors every day,” notes Chief Investment Officer Yup Kim.
Please join us in celebrating this remarkable leader who will surely make a meaningful difference in the lives of Texans in the years to come. For more details about the awards, read the official press release.
May 13, 2024
Ngoc Can Honored for Alpha Generation and as Future 40 Leader
Ngoc Can was selected from over 250 distinguished nominees to be honored by Private Equity International (PEI) as one of 40 exceptional private equity professionals under 40 years old. PEI’s annual award highlights professionals whose dedication to investment excellence set an example in best practices. Ngoc was concurrently recognized by Institutional Investor as 2024’s model of excellence in Private Equity Alpha Generation for her work in spearheading TMRS’ global co-investment efforts.
"The honorees represent a diverse spectrum of expertise and innovation within the industry. Their visionary approaches and strategic acumen have significantly influenced the landscape of portfolio construction, setting new standards of excellence." - Institutional Investor
"The judging process was as difficult as ever…. [the selected] 40 individuals stood out for their technical skill, leadership qualities, client lists, sense of innovation, and much more..“ - Private Equity International