$2.9B Bowdoin College Endowment Seeks CIO

K. Niles Bryant

The $2.9 billion endowment of Brunswick, Maine-based Bowdoin College is seeking a CIO, according to a job posting dated March 20, following the departure of CIO K. Niles Bryant earlier this month. 

“The chief investment officer is responsible for optimizing the investment performance of the Bowdoin endowment, which provides critical operating support for a distinguished academic experience and meets the financial needs of every accepted student,” the job posting stated. 

The search for a new CIO is being managed by search consultant SpencerStuart. According to the job posting, candidates should have 15 years of investment experience, a track record of superior performance, experience managing a team of investment professionals, and relevant experience within an endowment, foundation, sovereign fund, family office, investment manager or wealth management firm. 

Bryant, who announced his departure in December 2025, left the endowment this month for the role of CIO at family office Sutton Place Ltd. Bryant joined Bowdoin in 2019 and was named CIO in 2021, following the departure of 20-year veteran Paula Volent. 

“The CIO has responsibility for day-to-day oversight of the portfolio, manager sourcing and evaluation, investment recommendations, rebalancing, investment committee communications and team management. The CIO works closely with the investment committee on overall investment strategy and asset allocation policy and manager selection,” the job posting stated.  

Bryant previously held roles at the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and at the Carnegie Corp. of New York.

In fiscal 2025—the one-year period ending June 30, 2025—the Bowdoin endowment reported a 15.3% investment return and annualized returns of 8.8%, 13.5%, 11% and 10.9% over the past three, five, 10 and 20 years, respectively, making Bowdoin the third-best-performing endowment in fiscal 2025, with more than $1.8 billion in assets, according to NEPC.