Renae Griffin joins GCM Grosvenor

CHICAGO, Jan. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GCM Grosvenor today announced that Renae Griffin has joined the firm as a Director in a newly created role. Previously, Griffin was CEO of RG + Associates, a firm she founded in 2001 to focus on market strategy and business development consulting for emerging and diverse asset managers, which has annually sponsored its flagship ConsortiumEAST and ConsortiumWEST conferences for over a decade.

In her new role, Griffin will assist GCM Grosvenor in expanding its industry-leading small, emerging and diverse manager platform, which currently has cumulative commitments to small and emerging managers totaling $15 billion, including $3 billion in commitments to minority-owned and diverse asset managers across a number of asset classes. Griffin will focus on developing effective strategies for institutional investors, federal, state and local government agencies, corporations and non-profits to expand their exposure to high-quality emerging and diverse asset managers. Ms. Griffin will also be instrumental to integrating the Consortium conference series into the GCM Grosvenor Small and Emerging Managers Conference.

"As I explored a partnership to further the work of improving diversity in the asset management industry, I wanted to partner with a team that had a proven track record of doing so while generating top tier investment results," said Griffin. "I have worked with GCM Grosvenor for many years, and have great respect and admiration for the firm's influence and market leadership in the smaller, emerging and diverse manager space. Specifically, I was drawn to the firm's full suite of capabilities, ranging from seeding managers, to anchoring fund commitments, providing secondary capital, and co-investing across the spectrum of the alternative asset management industry. Diversity and inclusion is at the heart of GCM Grosvenor's culture; the firm has a long history of being a catalyst for change in the industry and I'm excited to be joining the team," Griffin said.

"Having known of Renae's work for years when this opportunity arose, it was an easy, resounding 'yes,'" said Michael Sacks, Chairman and CEO of GCM Grosvenor. "This is a perfect fit - Renae has effectively convened LPs, GPs and other stakeholders to address the important issues associated with small, emerging, and diverse asset managers. Addressing these issues and driving outcomes is a highly valued part of GCM Grosvenor's work, and the opportunity to partner with Renae is exciting.  Renae's Consortium series and our conference are the preeminent events in the space. We are excited to combine our efforts, deliver even more value to the marketplace and work together to drive equal access to capital for diverse asset managers," Sacks said.

Griffin began her career in finance in 1982 with Bankers Trust Company in the commercial lending group. In 1986, Griffin joined Capital Guardian Trust Company. In 1995, she joined Progress Investment Management Company as a marketing director responsible for investor relations, institutional investor marketing and strategy to many of the largest public institutional investors in the country. Griffin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of San Francisco. She is a member of the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP), Rotary International, and the Private Equity Women Investment Network.

About GCM Grosvenor

We invest on behalf of clients who seek allocations to alternative investments, such as private equity, hedge funds, real estate and infrastructure. With approximately $50 billion in assets under management, we are one of the world's largest and most diversified independent alternative asset management firms.

We specialize in developing customized portfolios for clients who want an active role in the development of their alternatives programs. We also offer multi-client portfolios for investors who desire a turn-key solution. Our offerings include multi-manager portfolios as well as portfolios of direct investments and co-investments.

As part of our broad investment activity across hedge funds, private equity, infrastructure and real estate, we have developed specific expertise in small, emerging and diverse manager investing. GCM Grosvenor's cumulative commitments to these managers total approximately $15 billion. Through our active support of diverse investment programs, and sponsorship and participation in targeted conferences, we are a strong advocate for diversity in the broader financial services industry.

GCM Grosvenor is headquartered in Chicago with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul.

SOURCE GCM Grosvenor