SEATTLE – Vulcan Inc. announced that it has hired Chris Orndorff as Chief Investment Officer. Orndorff brings 30 years of investment management and leadership experience to this role, which begins on June 20. Orndorff will be responsible for identifying investment opportunities and optimizing returns for Vulcan Capital – Paul G. Allen’s multi-billion-dollar investment arm. He will be based in Seattle and will report to Barbara Bennett, Vulcan’s President and Chief Operating Officer.
“I am very pleased to have Chris Orndorff join our team as our Chief Investment Officer,” said Allen, Vulcan Founder and Chairman. “He brings an extensive track record of building and managing successful investment businesses and teams, and further adds to the strength of our leadership group.”
Prior to Vulcan, Orndorff was Senior Portfolio Manager for Western Asset Management where he oversaw multi-sector, unconstrained and absolute return portfolios. He was also a member of the board of directors for Mercer Advisors, where he advised on business, investment as well as marketing and sales strategy.
“I am thrilled to join Vulcan and contribute to Paul Allen’s wide-ranging business and philanthropic investments,” said Orndorff. “This is an exciting time to invest, and Vulcan offers unique and unrivaled investments that make a difference in local and global communities.”
The addition of Orndorff builds upon the strong momentum Vulcan Capital has achieved under the direction of Abhishek Agrawal, Interim Chief Investment Officer. “Abhishek has done an excellent job over the last two years and I am very appreciative of the leadership he has demonstrated” added Allen. Abhishek has led Vulcan Capital’s investments into marquee growth companies including Alibaba, Flipkart, Magic Leap, Spotify, TrueCar and Uber among others, since the launch of Vulcan’s growth equity fund in April 2013. Moving forward in his role as Managing Director and Head of Growth Equity, Agrawal will continue to drive the firm’s investments in the internet and technology sectors globally.
Orndorff completed his undergraduate studies at Miami University and completed his MBA in finance and international business at The University of Chicago.
