University of Oklahoma Foundation Hires Consultant as CIO

Brad Johnson, University of Oklahoma FoundationThe University of Oklahoma (OU) Foundation has appointed a veteran consultant to head up its $1.4 billion endowment.

Brad Johnson, currently director of quantitative research and the derivatives implementation group at Cambridge Associates, will join the foundation this summer. The OU Foundation aims to manage and support charitable gifts made to the university.

Leading a staff of two investment professionals, Johnson will report to the foundation’s President Guy Patton, a spokesperson confirmed. He will also be responsible for the OU Foundation’s entire investment process.

“We believe Brad will provide a wealth of knowledge and skill in investing to the foundation and the university,” Patton said in a statement. “His combination of skills and experiences will bring terrific value to the foundation’s investment process.”

According to the foundation’s documents, the endowment beat its benchmarks for both trailing three-year and five-year periods, with 12.7% and 10% returns respectively.

The diversified portfolio—with more than 42% in global equity and 28% in hedge funds, among other allocations—also gained 19.5% in fiscal year 2014 and 14.3% in 2013.

“The growth and stability of the foundation’s financial assets will have a lasting impact on the university’s teaching, research, and mission for public service,” Johnson said regarding his move to Norman, Oklahoma.

Prior to his seven-year tenure at Cambridge Associates—where he began as investment director—he worked as a portfolio manager for WR Ericksen & Associates in Portland, Oregon.

Johnson holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Puget Sound in Seattle. He is also a chartered financial analyst.

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