Charles D Ellis

Charles D. Ellis founded Greenwich Associates, an international strategy consulting firm, in 1972. Over three decades as managing partner, he led the firm to serve leading companies across more than 130 professional financial markets globally. Ellis has had extensive involvement in academia and professional organizations, having served on the faculty at Harvard Business School and Yale School of Management, and at the CFA Institute Investor Workshop at Princeton. He was also a director of the Vanguard Group from 2001 to 2009 and has chaired multiple prestigious committees, including at Yale University and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Currently, as the Chair of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Ellis continues to influence the fields of investment and biomedical research. He has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award by the CFA Institute for his contributions to the investment profession. His talks and publications frequently address critical issues in investment management, the challenges of 401(k)s, and the dynamics of professional firms, making him a sought-after speaker in these areas.

Ellis holds a distinguished academic record with an MBA (with distinction) from Harvard Business School and a Ph.D. from New York University. He is an accomplished author, having written 17 books that include titles like "The Partnership: The Making of Goldman Sachs" and "Winning the Loser’s Game." His most recent publication is "Inside Vanguard" (McGraw-Hill, 2023). Additionally, his thought leadership extends to over 100 articles, earning accolades such as the Graham & Dodd award of the investment profession for his article “The Loser’s Game” in 1977. Ellis has been elected to The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, underscoring his extensive contributions to both academia and the finance industry.