David Rocker
{{Short description|American businessman}}
{{About|an American businessperson|the American football player|David Rocker (American football)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
David A. Rocker (born 1943)[http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/04/14/weekend-reading-profile-of-a-short-seller/ "Profile os a Short Seller", The New York Times, April 2006][http://www.nysun.com/article/32640 Overstock.com May Seek $1 Billion From Rocker Partners - May 12, 2006 - The New York Sun] founded the hedge fund Rocker Partners, LP.
Rocker holds a magna cum laude bachelor's degree from Harvard College and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Rocker and his wife, Marian, reside in Florida and New Jersey.{{Cite web |title=Seven-figure donation fuels emergency campaign |url=http://www.ujcnj.org/page.html?ArticleID=14191 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929025834/http://www.ujcnj.org/page.html?ArticleID=14191 |archive-date=2007-09-29 |access-date=2007-06-16}} They have two sons.
Early life and career
Rocker's grandparents were Austrian and Russian immigrants. His father was an accountant in West Orange, NJ, where Rocker was raised and married his high school sweetheart, Marian. After graduating from Harvard College, Rocker served for two years as an officer in the US Navy. He returned to Harvard Business School for his MBA.
In 1969, Rocker joined Mitchell Hutchins, where he was a research analyst and investment banker. In 1972, he hired on at Steinhardt, Fine, Berkowitz & Co., a pioneering hedge fund, and was a general partner there from 1973 to 1981.
Rocker joined Century Capital, a registered investment adviser, as a partner in 1981. While there, he was a portfolio manager for institutional clients.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}
After Century Capital was acquired in 1985, he formed Rocker Partners with $25 million. Originally based in New York City, the firm expanded over the years adding offices in Larkspur, California and Millburn New Jersey. The firm also managed Compass Holdings and Helmsman Holdings in the BVI which pursued similar strategies for foreign clients.
Rocker Partners became incorporated as Copper River Management, LLC. Rocker's former co-manager at the firm, Marc Cohodes, fully assumed managerial duties after Rocker's retirement in early 2007.{{Cite web |title=Pensions & Investments newsletter |url=http://www.cfainstitute.org/aboutus/press/mediahighlights/pdf/pi_crystal_ball.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320125952/http://www.cfainstitute.org/aboutus/press/mediahighlights/pdf/pi_crystal_ball.pdf |archive-date=2009-03-20 |access-date=2007-06-16}}
Rocker is a strong believer in the value of short selling both as an investment strategy on its own but also, more importantly, to provide investors with alternative points of view in an industry famous for its overtly bullish bias. Rocker was known to openly share his views on the market itself as well as on individual stocks. In 2003, he testified on the industry before the House Subcommittee on capital markets. He also wrote numerous articles for Barrons and other publications and was a frequent guest on CNBC.[http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/bizfinance/columns/bottomline/6077/ New York Magazine, James Cramer, June 2002]
Philanthropy and personal life
In retirement Rocker and his wife are involved in numerous charities, with a particular focus on Jewish issues. He currently serves on the investment committees of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. He has been a guest lecturer at the law and business schools at Harvard, Rutgers Law School, Florida International University and the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute.
References
External links
- [https://money.cnn.com/2008/10/10/news/economy/river_boyd.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008101012 Fortune, 'Lehman collapse puts hedge fund in dire straits']
- [http://financialservices.house.gov/media/pdf/052203dr.pdf Transcript of Rocker testifying before House Subcommittee in 2003]
- [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9401EEDA163FF936A25756C0A9629C8B63 Rocker sells Martha Stewart Omnimedia shares]
- [http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/58/ganders.html FastCompany.com, How to Spot the Next Enron]
- [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE4D71239F933A05753C1A960958260 The New York Times, Rocker comments about America Online, 1996]
- [https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2006/04/14/weekend-reading-profile-of-a-short-seller/ "Profile of a Short Seller", The New York Times, April 2006]
- [http://www.nysun.com/business/overstockcom-may-seek-1-billion-from-rocker/32640/ "Overstock.com May Seek $1 Billion From Rocker Partners" - May 12, 2006 - The New York Sun]
- [https://www.jfedgmw.org/page.html?ArticleID=14191 "Seven-figure donation fuels emergency campaign"]
- [http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/bizfinance/columns/bottomline/6077/ "New York Magazine, James Cramer", June 2002]
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Category:All-American college football players
Category:American financial analysts
Category:American investment bankers
Category:American finance and investment writers
Category:American hedge fund managers
Category:American people of Russian descent
Category:American people of Austrian descent
Category:American stock traders
Category:Harvard Business School alumni