Hunter Lewis


Hunter Lewis is the co-founder of Cambridge Associates LLC, a global investment firm, and author of books in the fields of economics and moral philosophy.

Early life

Lewis was born in Dayton, Ohio, USA, in 1947 and graduated from Groton School and Harvard University.

Cambridge Associates

After working at the Boston Company, then one of the largest investment managers, where he became a vice president in 1972, Lewis in 1973 co-founded and served as co-chief executive and then chief executive of Cambridge Associates LLC, an investment advisor to American research universities and colleges representing over three-quarters of U.S. higher education endowment assets, other non-profits, international organizations, and families, with offices in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Lewis was a co-inventor of what became known as the American University style of institutional investing, which gave American university endowment funds the highest investment returns in the world among institutional investors, and which became widely emulated.
Cambridge Associates also became known for its stated intention of avoiding the conflicts of interest endemic to Wall Street, conflicts that became especially apparent during the Crash of 2008. Cambridge Associates has said that its mode of “conflict free” services represents an important innovation in American finance. However, the Firm's business model has shifted in recent years with the majority of revenues now derived from asset management rather than independent advice.

Other activities

Lewis has been active in the environmental and natural health fields. He has been president of the Alliance for Natural Health-USA, chairman of the National Environmental Trust, chairman of the Worldwatch Institute, chairman of Shelburne Farms, treasurer of the World Wildlife Fund, trustee of World Wildlife Fund International, and trustee of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. In addition to natural health and the environment boards, he has also been president of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, chairman of Dumbarton Oaks, trustee of the Morgan Library, trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, trustee of Groton School, and member of the World Bank Pension Finance Committee.

Publications

Lewis has written for the New York Times The Times of London, the Washington Post, and the Atlantic Monthly as well as numerous websites such as Forbes.com and Realclearmarkets.com. Books on economics include: Economics in Three Lessons & One Hundred Economic Laws, Crony Capitalism in America: 2008-2012, , Are the Rich Necessary?: Great Economic Arguments and How They Reflect Our Personal Values, The Real World War.
Books on moral philosophy include: The Secular Saints: And Why Morals Are Not Just Subjective, A Question of Values: Six Ways We Make the Personal Choices That Shape Our Lives, The Beguiling Serpent, Alternative Values: For and Against Wealth, Power, Fame, Praise, Glory, and Physical Pleasure. Articles include, among others: "Sustainability, The Complete Concept: Environment, Healthcare, and Economy".

Articles