After a storied career in institutional investing, Britt Harris is stepping down from his role at the University of Texas/Texas A&M University Investment Management Company on June 30.
The president and CEO of the $66 billion fund leaves behind a legacy of strong performance and risk management. Chief investment officer Rich Hall will be promoted to president and CEO after his departure.
“Britt is a unique and exceptional leader and one of the most talented investment leaders in the country — we have been fortunate to have him at the helm of UTIMCO these last six years,” said UTIMCO board chairman Rad Weaver in a statement.
Harris joined UTIMCO in 2017 as its chief investment officer, after spending ten years as CIO at the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Prior to that, he held executive roles at Bridgewater Associates and the Verizon Investment Management Corporation. Over the course of his 43-year career, Harris has led seven investment companies.
Early in his career, Harris was named one of America’s top 25 investors by Institutional Investor. Harris, a longtime advisor to other organizations setting up investment offices, has also served on the President’s Working Council on Financial Markets and advised both the New York and Dallas Federal Reserve banks.
“UTIMCO has everything it needs to continue to be a world-class investment team for years to come,” Harris said in a statement. “Thank you to the board of directors for the opportunity to lead UTIMCO these last six years — I am grateful for all the amazing people that I have worked with and met along the way.”
In December 2021, when Harris transitioned into the CEO and president role, UTIMCO named Hall its chief investment officer. Hall had joined UTIMCO in 2018, after serving in investment roles at the Harvard Management Company and the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Prior to his work at TRS, Hall worked in merger and acquisition roles and investment banking. He also served as an intelligence officer for six years in the U.S. Navy.
“Rich is a proven leader of people and of investment management and is eminently qualified to take the helm of UTIMCO,” Weaver said in a statement. “We look forward to the ongoing success he will accomplish on UTIMCO’s behalf.”
In 2022, UTIMCO was named “Team of the Year” at II’s Allocators’ Choice awards. In 2018 and 2019, the fund was awarded Endowment of the Year at II’s Hedge Fund Industry Awards.
