Edwards

The Cornell Board of Trustees at its meeting May 25 approved the appointment of A.J. Edwards as the university's chief investment officer. Edwards had been serving as interim CIO since May 2011. He reports directly to President David Skorton and trustee Don Opatrny, chair of the board's Investment Committee.

"A.J.'s skillful management of our Office of University Investments and his close and effective work with the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees during the past year have been key factors in the university's ability to maintain a strong recovery from the recent economic downturn," said Skorton. "His ongoing record of accomplishment and well-established skills will hold us in good stead for the future."

Said Opatrny: "Working with A.J. has been a pleasure, and we have gained from his leadership of the investments office. The entire Investment Committee looks forward to continuing our fine working relationship for Cornell's benefit."

"I am humbled by the confidence placed in me by President Skorton, Trustee Opatrny and the entire board of trustees," said Edwards. "I look forward to continuing the work we have done together over the last year as we look to Cornell's sesquicentennial and beyond."

As CIO, Edwards leads a team of investment officers and analysts responsible for overall management of Cornell's $5.3 billion endowment in concert with the board's Investment Committee. He is responsible for recommending the asset allocation to the Investment Committee, risk management and the manager selection process.

Over the past year, Edwards has worked with his team to improve the internal investment decision-making process as well as implement a new research management system.

Edwards serves on Cornell's Debt Advisory Committee, the Retirement Plan Oversight Committee, the Energy Risk and Oversight Committee, the Technology Transfer Advisory Committee, and the Investment and Equity Management Subcommittee.

Edwards joined Cornell as a senior investment officer in 2008 from Northeast Utilities in Connecticut where he managed the pension plan. Edwards began his career at Wright Investors' Service in Connecticut, holding various positions in the equity management group.

He received a bachelor's degree in economics and political science in 1993 and an MBA in finance in 1997 from the University of Connecticut and a master's degree in mathematics in 2007 from Fairfield University. Edwards holds the chartered financial analyst designation (CFA) and is a member of the CFA Institute and the New York Society of Security Analysts.