Nancy Orr is set to be the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation’s next vice president for investments and chief investment officer, the $3.7 billion endowment announced this week.
Orr joins on Nov. 1 and will succeed Jay Flaherty, who will remain at the foundation until he retires in January 2024. He had been at Mott since 2007. Much of the Flint, Mich.-based endowment’s portfolio is invested in alternative investments.
With more than two decades of experience, Orr most recently was CIO of Fiduciary Counselling Inc. in St. Paul, Minn., where she led the investment program for an $11 billion RIA serving a single, multi-generational family. Before that she was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester serving as a senior investment officer with Treasury Services. In that role she handled both a $1.8 billion multi-strategy hedge fund portfolio and a $1.4 billion real asset portfolio.
“She combines experience as a CIO and a passion for investing with equal enthusiasm about advancing the Foundation’s mission of promoting a just, equitable and sustainable society,” said Mott Foundation President and CEO Ridgway White of Orr’s appointment. “I’m confident Nancy is the right person to help position the Foundation as we prepare to enter our second century of grantmaking.”
Orr has been charged to continue to build and enhance an innovative and high-performing investment portfolio under guiding principles established by the Foundation’s investment committee. She was hired through a national search conducted by David Barrett Partners.
“I am truly honored to be selected to serve the Mott Foundation as its chief investment officer,” said Orr. “I believe in the Foundation’s mission and the impact it achieves for the communities it serves globally. I look forward to contributing my expertise alongside the talented team here to maximize returns that will help further the Foundation’s charitable goals.”
She currently serves on the board of trustees of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, the board of directors of India Capital and the investment advisory council of the Minnesota State Board of Investment.
