Kevin Nee
Partner and Chief Capital Officer at Fin Capital
Kevin Nee
Partner and Chief Capital Officer at Fin Capital
Los Angeles, California
Overview
Work Experience
Partner and Chief Capital Officer
2021 - Current
Partner and Chief Capital Officer, focused on sourcing and serving client relationships, providing strategic advice, and supporting Fin's portfolio companies.
Strategic Advisor
2020
Advisor to Founder of Upwelling Capital Group LLC (current), focused on providing advisory and capital solutions to institutional investors and private capital managers. Upwelling's principals have cumulatively overseen +$50 billion in global private equity commitments and have successfully managed +$5 billion for leading institutional investors.
Head of Capital Formation
2019 - 2020
The world’s leading “Built World” venture capital Firm, focused on real estate technology, with $1.1B in committed capital. Recruited by and reported to CEO/Co-Founder, in charge of spearheading Fifth Wall’s fundraising/growth strategy across multiple products. • Responsible for sourcing and developing limited partner relationships, aiding in the design of Fifth Wall’s overall strategic vision and plan, managing external communications with limited partners, and creating and managing Fifth Wall’s external facing collateral materials. • Focused first on designing and raising a $500M venture capital fund at the intersection of climate change and real estate.
Strategic Advisor
2018 - 2019
Advisor to Founder of Arixa Capital, one of the Western Region’s leading private commercial/residential real estate lenders, with more than $1B in originations and based in Los Angeles. Jointly responsible for firm-wide P&L. Charged with improving and streamlining all aspects of core lending business, including positioning firm as delivering excellent risk-adjusted returns with an exceptionally low loss ratio, as well as developing and executing Opportunity Zone investment program. Managed approximately 30% of firm’s professionals, including Head of Sales/IR, CFO, and GC.
Chief Executive Officer
2014 - 2017
Covariance Capital Management (“CCM”) is the $2.5B outsourced CIO solutions provider for Teachers Insurance Annuity Association of America’s (TIAA) nonprofit clients. As CEO and Chairman, Board of Directors, reported to TIAA COO and Board that included TIAA’s CEO, responsible for P&L with $25M budget. Managed 5 C-Suite direct reports with 35 professionals. CCM Investment, Risk Management, Best Execution Committees Member. Mandated to grow newly-created OCIO platform. • Developed CCM’s first detailed business strategy, including resource allocation and planning, distribution strategy, coordination and partnership with TIAA’s resources to access client relationships, client servicing and reporting, operational efficiency and scalability, and our approach to visible thought leadership in the market – establishing CCM in the OCIO market and positioning the Firm for significant long-term growth. • More than doubled AUM by developing and executing strategy that established CCM as a leading endowment choice. • Generated +$10B client pipeline by creating a client-prospect referral program with TIAA and extensive enterprise-wide collaboration. • Achieved +150bps of annualized outperformance vs. clients’ customized benchmarks as Investment Committee Member, approving investment managers and co-investments across equities, fixed income, hedge funds, real assets and private equity/venture capital. • Improved portfolio risk position, as evidenced through Sharpe Ratio approximately +.20 above Policy Portfolios.
President
2009 - 2014
WPM is the $5B private markets division of Wilshire Associates (“Wilshire”), providing core diversified and niche exposure. As President and Member, Board of Directors, reported to Wilshire CEO and President, responsible for P&L with $30M budget. Managed 7 direct reports, staff of 40 in U.S., Europe, Asia. WPM Investment Committee Member, Chair of WPM Business Committee. Developed and drove strategy for evolving global private markets. • Investment mandates ranged from core, diversified private markets vehicles covering a number of geographies and private markets sectors – across primaries, secondaries and co-investments – to niche-oriented separate accounts providing more specialized exposure. • Led collaboration between WPM and Wilshire Consulting, generating $6M for WPM advisory business. • Expanded into private real assets, including RE and infrastructure, increasing WPM clients by 10% and $2M in new business mandates. • Enhanced existing relationships and added new clients through restructuring of business development function.
Managing Director/Co-Founder, Principal and Portfolio Manager
2001 - 2008
BlackRock Private Equity Partners (fka Quellos Private Capital Markets) is the integrated $6B private markets teams across BlackRock and Quellos Group acquisition. As Managing Director, BlackRock (2007-2008) and Co-Founder, Principal and Portfolio Manager, Quellos Group (2001-2007), reported to Quellos Group Founder/CIO, responsible for P&L with $15M Budget. Led 10 professionals in 3 U.S. offices and managed $2B in AUM at Quellos across private equity, venture capital and real assets primary/secondary partnerships and co-investments in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Israel. Investment Committee Member throughout entire tenure. Acquired by BlackRock in 2007 and became senior member of $6B team. • Co-founded Quellos Group’s de novo private capital division, within dominant hedge fund provider, as a Managing Director in 2001, selected as a Principal of the Firm in 2006. Provided primary, secondary and co-investment exposure for clients. • Was responsible for designing, raising and executing 5 investment funds with $2 billion in capital commitments from U.S. and European institutional investors, increasing Firm AUM by 10%, across distinct PE/VC and real assets (RE, energy, etc.) products. • QPCM’s private capital funds allowed Quellos, with $22 billion in assets under management at the time of sale to BlackRock, to complement its hedge fund products and complete its alternative assets offerings, with longer-term client assets locked in for 12+ years. • Hired, mentored and managed a team of investment professionals located in Quellos Group’s New York, Seattle and Durham, NC offices, all focused on driving growth and achieving strong investment returns for clients.
Principal
1999 - 2000
A $3.4B alternative assets manager across private equity, venture capital and hedge fund firms, as well as direct investments in private financial services companies. • Responsible for the U.S. private equity activities of Capital Z Investments, with $1.5 billion in committed capital. Areas of focus included venture capital, leveraged buyout, expansion capital, distressed debt and real estate managers. • Sourced, evaluated and negotiated strategic investments in private equity asset management businesses, in the form of (i) a significant continuing capital commitment to an individual private equity team across multiple funds, (ii) a permanent ownership stake in the carried interest and management company, and (iii) a firm governance role, serving on both the management company's board and the fund's investment committee.
Vice President
1993 - 1999
The $2.5B private markets team of Invesco. • Managed private equity fund of funds portfolios with $1.5 billion under management, investing globally in venture capital, leveraged buyout, expansion capital, distressed debt, mezzanine and special situations primary and secondary transactions. • Performance results exceeded industry benchmarks. Employed both traditional and newly-developed (i.e., listed) fund of funds vehicles. • As part of the direct investment effort with an additional $1 billion under management, primarily focused on later-stage venture capital investments in information technology and specialty retail companies, with healthcare as a secondary area of concentration. • Coordinated fundraising efforts, marketing to U.S. and overseas clients in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Raised approximately $1.1 billion in a three-year period.