Cambridge Associates Names New President, Head of Investing

Cambridge Associates appointed Samantha Davidson as the firm’s president and head of global investing, starting in July, the firm announced in a press release this week.

Samantha Davidson

The portfolio management and advisory firm hired Davidson to lead its global investing team, responsible for running the firm’s investment business and overseeing its global investment platform to ensure that clients’ return and partnership expectations are satisfied, according to the release.

Davidson, who was a senior partner in and U.S. investments leader at Mercer, will report to David Druley, Cambridge Associates’ CEO. She will be starting July 17, according to a spokesperson. 

“Samantha is a deeply experienced investment leader in the asset and wealth management industry,” Druley said in the release. “Her expertise in designing and providing customized portfolios across traditional and alternative asset classes will allow Cambridge Associates to continue our focus of providing best-in-class service to our pension, endowment, foundation, and private wealth clients, globally.”

Davidson replaces Noel O’Neill, who has taken on a newly created executive role as the firm’s first head of investment implementation, according to the announcement. O’Neill had served as president since February 2019, following Philip Walton (2016-19) and Druley (2016) since the position’s creation.

Davidson will also be appointed to the executive leadership team and the firm’s board of directors, according to the release.

“I have been following Cambridge Associates for almost two decades,” Davidson said in the release. “I really value the firm’s focus on and alignment with clients and admire the passionate team of investors the firm has cultivated.”