Co-Director

Rich Excell

Richard Excell is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Illinois and a retired Senior Portfolio Manager from Wolverine Asset Management, where he managed a global equity long/short hedge fund. His career also includes serving as CIO at Satori Investment Partners and holding senior roles at UBS O'Connor, ending as Managing Director and Co-Head of the Fundamental Equity Market Neutral Fund.

Excell has extensive experience in global financial markets, including foreign exchange, precious metals, derivatives, and equity strategies. He holds a B.S. in Finance and Japanese Studies from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. He is a CFA and CMT charterholder, contributes to financial media and podcasts, writes for Substack and CME Group, and serves as a Director for the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Foundation.

Co-Director

Mike Vitek

Michael Vitek is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Finance and Co-Director of the Investment Management Academy at the University of Illinois, where he teaches Applied Financial Analysis and Accounting for Financial Analysis. Before joining Gies, he served as a Managing Director at Mesirow, providing analytical coverage for small-cap value and small-mid cap value strategies across the technology and healthcare sectors, while also working in portfolio management and client relations.

Vitek's career also includes roles as a Senior Director and Research Analyst at Fiduciary Management Associates, a Portfolio Manager at Allstate, and an equity and fixed income analyst at State Farm. He began his career at Arthur Andersen and is a 1989 graduate of the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Finance. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, is a CFA charterholder, and is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago and CFA Institute.