Rakesh DahiyaSouthern Methodist University (SMU) has appointed Rakesh Dahiya as treasurer and CIO, the university announced Wednesday.
Dahiya, who previously oversaw hedge funds, public equity, and fixed-income strategies at the University of Florida Investment Corporation, will take charge of SMU’s $1.5 billion endowment on September 12.
“Rakesh Dahiya’s experience in higher education investment management, particularly with sophisticated institutional portfolios much like SMU’s, as well as his achievements in corporate finance, makes him an excellent fit as SMU’s chief investment officer,” said SMU President Gerald Turner in a release.
Dahiya replaces ex-CIO Michael Condon, who resigned earlier this year to join the Fund Evaluation Group’s outsourced-CIO (OCIO) arm.
At SMU, Dahiya will work with the board of trustees’ investment committee on “setting agendas, developing policies, [and] formulating investment strategies, as well as recommending specific investment managers and vehicles for carrying out the investment program,” the university said.
“Current markets are complex and fast-moving,” said Fred Hegi, chair of the investment committee. “It was important that we find the best individual to monitor national and global markets and identify strategic opportunities that position the university for growth.”
Prior to his five years with the University of Florida endowment manager, Dahiya served nine years as a public markets manager at Washington University. He also worked as an investment manager at the Ralston Purina Company.
Dahiya holds an MBA from the University of Illinois.