Joseph Dear

Chief Investment Officer, California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)

 

Joseph Dear is the Chief Investment Officer of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). Mr. Dear oversees all asset classes in which CalPERS invests, including domestic and international equity, Treasury and agency debt, high yield bonds, mortgage backed securities, CDOs, real estate, corporate governance, currency overlay, securities lending, venture capital, leveraged buyouts, and hedge funds.

 

Mr. Dear is responsible for the strategic plan for the CalPERS Investment Office, including tactical asset allocation, risk management, business development, budget authority, new investment programs, trading technology, staffing, and back office operations.

 

Mr. Dear joined CalPERS in March 2009 after previously serving as the Executive Director for the Washington State Investment Board. In this role, Mr. Dear served as the Board’s Chief Executive Officer, overseeing a staff of 73 to implement the Board’s investment policy decisions. Mr. Dear was responsible for more than $67.6 billion within 38 funds, comprised of defined benefit and defined contribution retirement, deferred compensation, workers' compensation, permanent, and other trust funds.  He previously served as Chief of Staff for Washington State Governor Gary Locke. Mr. Dear also served in the Clinton Administration as Assistant Secretary of Labor at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Mr. Dear also serves as the Chairman of the Council of Institutional Investors.

 

Mr. Dear received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economy from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington