Mark Yusko
Mark Yusko is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer of Morgan Creek Capital Management, a leading SEC-registered investment advisory firm, and Managing Partner of Morgan Creek Digital Assets, the firm’s blockchain and cryptocurrency-focused division. Widely recognized as a visionary investor and hedge fund manager, Yusko is celebrated for his ability to anticipate “what’s next” in global markets, from alternative assets to digital finance. He is a pioneer in institutional investing and alternative strategies, having spent decades shaping endowment-style investment frameworks for major institutions. Before founding Morgan Creek in 2004, Yusko served as Founder, President, and CIO of UNC Management Company, where he managed the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s multi-billion-dollar endowment. He also held the role of Senior Investment Director at the University of Notre Dame Investment Office, helping advance one of the earliest models of diversified, alternative asset-based endowment management. In addition to leading Morgan Creek, Yusko serves on advisory boards for private capital partnerships and alternative investment programs and consults with institutional investors on portfolio construction, risk management, and digital asset integration.
Mark Yusko Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Founder, CEO, and Chief Investment Officer
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Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer
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Senior Investment Director for the UND Investment Office
Academic History
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M.B.A., Accounting and Finance
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B.S., Biology and Chemistry
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Advisory Board Member, DukeEngage
President and Chairman of the Investment Committee, The Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Foundation
President and and Head of Investment Committee, Morgan Creek Foundation
UNC MANAGEMENT COMPANY
During his tenure as Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer of the UNC Management Company, Mark Yusko oversaw all aspects of the University of North Carolina’s $1.5 billion investment portfolio, which included $1.2 billion in endowment assets and $300 million in working capital.
He was responsible for strategic and tactical asset allocation, investment manager selection, performance evaluation, spending policy management, and reporting to the Investment Fund Board.
Under his leadership, UNCMC also expanded its services to provide outsourced investment management for other institutions within the UNC system, setting a benchmark for endowment management excellence.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Before UNC, Yusko served as Senior Investment Director at the University of Notre Dame Investment Office, where he played a pivotal role in advancing the Endowment Model of investing—a diversified, long-term approach emphasizing alternative assets.
He worked closely with the Chief Investment Officer on asset allocation, portfolio construction, and manager selection, building robust programs in private equity, real estate, and marketable alternatives that significantly strengthened the university’s endowment performance.
Yusko later implemented and refined this model at UNC, helping to redefine institutional investing for universities nationwide.
MEDIA PRESENCE & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Yusko is a highly regarded thought leader and frequent keynote speaker at major global investment conferences.
He regularly appears on Bloomberg, CNBC, Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Business Insider, Institutional Investor, and Reuters, where he discusses markets, alternative investments, and digital assets.
In the blockchain and crypto space, he has been featured in CoinDesk, Cointelegraph, The Block, and Blockworks, and has appeared as a guest on Real Vision.
Known for his clear market insights and forward-thinking views, Yusko continues to shape discussions on the future of finance and digital innovation.