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Ewan Kirk

Founder & Chair

Turner Kirk Trust

Cambridge, UK

Ewan Kirk

Niclas Kjellström-Matseke

Spear REIT Limited

Ewan Kirk’s Biography

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Dr. Ewan Kirk is a technology entrepreneur, former President of GAM Systematic Cantab, and Chairman of the Management Committee of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences. A seed investor in startups in Cambridge and London, he has been active in philanthropy since 2007.

Ewan has been involved in a number of ventures to commercialise, apply and support science, technology and mathematics research.

He is best known for founding Cantab Capital Partners, a science-driven quantitative investment management firm that uses data analysis to research and implement systematic investment strategies. Between 2007 and 2016, Cantab grew from a team of two with £30m AUM to 60 people with over £4bn AUM and was consistently ranked as one of the top-performing quant funds. In 2016 it was acquired by GAM Investments. He went on to serve as President of GAM Systematic Cantab until 2021.

A partner at Goldman Sachs between 1992 and 2005, Ewan was responsible for leading their 120-strong quantitative technology group. He previously served as Director of Innovation at Scientific Generics... Dr. Ewan Kirk is a technology entrepreneur, former President of GAM Systematic Cantab, and Chairman of the Management Committee of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences. A seed investor in startups in Cambridge and London, he has been active in philanthropy since 2007.

Ewan has been involved in a number of ventures to commercialise, apply and support science, technology and mathematics research.

He is best known for founding Cantab Capital Partners, a science-driven quantitative investment management firm that uses data analysis to research and implement systematic investment strategies. Between 2007 and 2016, Cantab grew from a team of two with £30m AUM to 60 people with over £4bn AUM and was consistently ranked as one of the top-performing quant funds. In 2016 it was acquired by GAM Investments. He went on to serve as President of GAM Systematic Cantab until 2021.

A partner at Goldman Sachs between 1992 and 2005, Ewan was responsible for leading their 120-strong quantitative technology group. He previously served as Director of Innovation at Scientific Generics (now Sagentia), a consultancy providing scientific solutions to business problems, and founded DaLEK Software, which developed the Microdraft CAD software package.

Alongside his wife Dr. Patricia Turner, he founded the Turner Kirk Trust, which supports STEM, education and conservation causes. It funds the Kirk Distinguished Fellowship Programme for female mathematicians and the Turner Kirk Visiting Fellowship Programme to bring leading mathematicians to Cambridge.

In 2015, the couple provided a £5m gift to the University of Cambridge to establish the Cantab Capital Institute for the Mathematics of Information.

Ewan holds a PhD in General Relativity, MASt in Mathematics (Part III, Cambridge Mathematical Tripos), and a BSc in Natural Philosophy and Astronomy. moreless

Ewan Kirk’s Newsfeed

The Royal Society

Royal Society announces 2022 Entrepreneur in Residence recipients

Founder of Cantab Capital Partners and tech entrepreneur, Dr Ewan Kirk, has been announced by the Royal Society as Entrepreneur in Residence at Cambridge University.

Turner Kirk Trust

Dr Ewan Kirk — “We want charities to experiment, think up innovative ideas, then go and try them.”

In an interview with the Turner Kirk Trust, Co-Founder Ewan Kirk discusses the Trust's innovative approach to fundraising, grantmaking and philanthropy.

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Ewan Kirk’s Background

Cantab Capital Partners

Founder

Feb 2006 - Present

Cambridge, UK

Founded in 2006, Cantab Capital is a science-driven quantitative investment firm. One of the top-performing quant funds between 2006-16, the company credits its success to its scientific rigour, using data analysis to research, test and implement systematic investment strategies. With strong ties to the University of Cambridge, the company conducts itself like a scientific research organisation.

GAM Systematic | Cantab

President

Oct 2016 - Mar 2021

Cambridge, UK

Part of GAM Investments, GAM Systematic | Cantab manages a range of algorithm-led quantitative investment funds. Led by a team of physicists and mathematicians, the team uses data analysis to test and implement systematic investment strategies across a broad range of asset classes. Known for its academic excellence, it was formed in 2016 following the acquisition of Cantab Capital Partners.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Partner | Head, Quantitative Strategies Group

1992 - 2005

London, UK

Goldman Sachs' Quantitative Strategies Group oversees all of the organisation's quantitative technology. Formed of a team of outstanding mathematicians, physicists, computer scientists and technologists, the Group uses advanced econometric and quantitative methods to structure, manage and monitor investment portfolios, researching multi-asset investment strategies.

Scientific Generics (now Sagentia)

Director of Innovation

1989 - 1992

Cambridge, UK

A Cambridge-based consultancy, Scientific Generics (now Sagentia) brings together a team of scientists, engineers and mathematicians to leverage their problem-solving skills to find solutions to difficult problems for its clients, leveraging cutting-edge technology and research to give their clients a competitive edge in the market.

DaLEK Software

Co-Founder

1984 - 1989

Glasgow, UK

Founded in 1984, DaLEK developed two-dimensional Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) package MicroDraft for the Amstrad CPC6128 and PCW8256 microcomputer. The original MicroDraft code was rewritten and ported to the PC environment, firstly under MSDOS, then 16-bit Windows and finally 32-bit Windows environments.

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Ewan Kirk’s Gallery

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Ewan Kirk speaking at an event.

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Photo of Ewan Kirk

Ewan Kirk speaking at an event.

Other Business Interests

Deeptech Labs

Chair

Jun 2021 - Present

Cambridge, UK

Deeptech Labs is an Accelerator and Venture Capital fund based in Cambridge. Deeptech Labs focuses on building deep tech companies by leveraging the unique academic and commercial capabilities offered by the Cambridge ecosystem.

BAE Systems plc

Non-Executive Director

Jun 2021 - Present

BAE Systems plc is a British-based global aerospace, security, and arms company. The company provides some of the world's most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace, and security solutions. BAE Systems is the largest defence contractor in Europe, employing over 89,000 people across 40 countries worldwide.

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Philanthropy

Turner Kirk Trust

Co-Founder & Director

2007 - Present

Cambridge, UK

The Turner Kirk Trust is a multi-million-pound trust which supports conservation, early child development, academic research, and international aid causes in the UK and developing world. It has dispersed over £7 million and is one of the largest private funders of fundamental mathematics research in the UK.

Awards & Recognition

Hedge Funds Review European Performance Awards

Lifetime contribution to hedge fund industry

2020

London, UK

Ewan Kirk was awarded Editor’s Choice for lifetime contribution to the hedge fund industry. Known as the most respected awards in the European hedge fund industry, the European Performance Awards is an annual prestigious awards ceremony highlighting the leaders and emerging leaders in the industry.

Hedge Funds Review European Performance Awards

Best Global Macro Hedge Fund

2020

London, UK

GAM Systematic was awarded the Best Global Macro Hedge Fund 2020. The GAM Systematic Core Macro fund has been designed to use the team’s existing and proven infrastructure to give investors access to a diversified stream of systematically harvested returns within the macro sector. The core of the fund’s approach is multi-strategy and multi-asset.

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Academic Appointments

The Royal Society

Entrepreneur in Residence: Cambridge University

Mar 2023 - Present

Cambridge, UK

The Royal Society is a Fellowship of the most eminent scientists worldwide and is the oldest scientific academy in continuous existence. Ewan is part of the network in universities and research institutes across the UK, helping to convert cutting-edge research into industrial success.

Ewan Kirk’s Education

University of Southampton

PhD, General Relativity

1984 - 1989

University of Cambridge

Part III of Applied Maths Tripos

1983 - 1984

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