New team to enhance long-term growth and strengthen endowment investment strategy
MIAMI – The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has taken a significant step in the management of its endowment by bringing investment management and operations in-house and announcing the appointment of Rebecca Carland as chief investment officer and Shanna Charles as director of investment operations.
Rebecca Carland joins Knight Foundation with a wealth of experience in investment management, having led teams overseeing significant U.S. and international assets. As chief investment officer, she will lead the foundation’s efforts to optimize long-term growth and sustainability. Carland’s leadership experience includes serving as chief investment officer at Builders Vision, as well as holding senior roles at Walton Enterprises, Cambridge Associates and Goldman Sachs.
“We are thrilled to have Rebecca at the helm of our investment office,” said Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of Knight Foundation. “Building an in-house investment team allows us to manage our assets with greater strategic flexibility, ensuring that we continue to support Knight’s mission in perpetuity.”
“I’m honored to help build and lead Knight Foundation’s investment team at such a pivotal moment,” said Carland. “It’s an exciting time to advance the foundation’s legacy of thoughtful stewardship. I look forward to working with the team to continue supporting Knight Foundation’s impact.”
Carland will be joined by Shanna Charles, who brings extensive investment operations experience to her new role as director of investment operations. Charles has a strong background in managing different types of investments and previously helped build an in-house investment team for a significant private family office. Earlier in her career, she worked at Cambridge Associates, where she managed the operations of taxable, trust and foundation portfolios, including that of Knight Foundation.
With these key hires, Knight Foundation is positioning itself for continued financial strength, ensuring its resources are managed with excellence in support of its commitment to fostering informed and engaged communities.
About Knight Foundation
We are social investors who support a more effective democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers.