Jim Cracraft is an accomplished investment executive and former technology leader with more than three decades of experience spanning asset management, quantitative research, aerospace engineering, and large-scale software innovation. He currently serves as Chief Investment Officer of a large private Foundation, where he oversees investment strategy achieve the organization’s long-term gifting and spending goals.
Prior to joining the foundation, Jim spent 15 years at Fidelity Investments as Senior Vice President and Head of Portfolio Engineering for Strategic Advisers. He led a team of 75 investment professionals across multiple locations and oversaw the management of millions of customized client portfolios. Before his tenure at Fidelity, Jim served as Director and Head of Quantitative Research for Citigroup Global Wealth Management’s Tailored Portfolio Group.
Jim’s early career reflects deep engineering and technical expertise. At DreamWorks Animation, he developed a production-management system used on major films and considered for an Academy Award for technical achievement. Prior roles at TRW Space & Defense (now Northrop Grumman) included developing analytical and modeling software for aerospace, intelligence, environmental, and defense clients, including orbital simulations, hyperspectral analysis, and 3D visualization systems.
Jim holds an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering and Systems Architecture from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science from the University of Colorado. He also earned graduate certificates in Finance from the University of Connecticut and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Irvine.