Dear Rice community,
I am pleased to announce that following a nationwide search, Rice has named alumnus John Lawrence ’97 as the new chief investment officer and president of Rice Management Co. John steps into the role after a distinguished career at RMC, where he has worked since 2012 and has served as the interim CIO since October 2024.
As deputy CIO, John played an integral role in overseeing the university’s investment management function, which is responsible for managing the endowment, currently valued at $8.1 billion. The Rice endowment ranks among the top 20 of U.S. private research universities, and the annual distribution from the endowment is the largest single revenue source for the university’s operating budget, supporting approximately 40% of Rice’s annual operating expenses.
Rice’s endowment is essential to our long-term financial sustainability and ability to support critical initiatives such as national-leading generous student financial aid and the expansion of research programs that advance the nation and the world. John has been a key, invaluable leader at RMC for over a decade, helping guide the organization to best-in-class, risk-adjusted returns. His deep knowledge of Rice’s values, commitment to excellence and track record of success make him the ideal person to lead RMC as we continue to enhance the financial strength of our university for generations to come. His promotion also is a testament to the depth of leadership at Rice and our commitment to recognizing and advancing outstanding individuals from within.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts in managerial studies from Rice and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management. Prior to joining RMC, John spent 12 years in public equity investments, including as a principal and portfolio manager at Transamerica Investment Management in Los Angeles and a senior analyst at Tudor Pickering & Holt, where he focused on energy securities.
Rice’s investment strategy focuses on maintaining a highly diversified portfolio that seeks to deliver long-term returns while managing risk across various asset classes, including venture capital, private equity, publicly traded equities, natural resources, fixed income, cash and real estate. RMC operates independently but is governed by a board of directors appointed by the Rice Board of Trustees.
John succeeds Allison Thacker ’96, who stepped down from her position in September but continued to serve as a special adviser during the transition period.
His appointment comes after a nationwide search conducted by executive search firm Spencer Stuart. The search was led by a five-member committee chaired by trustee Bart Broadman and included Rice Board of Trustees Chair Robert T. Ladd ’78, trustee Mike Yuen ’89, Rice Business Dean Peter Rodriguez and myself.
Please join me in congratulating John on his new role and thanking him for his extraordinary commitment to Rice and its success.
Warm regards,
President Reginald DesRoches