David (Dave) Iben is the sole portfolio manager of the Kopernik Global All-Cap strategy, lead portfolio manager of the Kopernik Global Unconstrained strategy, co-portfolio manager of the Kopernik Global Real Asset strategy and co-portfolio manager of the Kopernik International strategy. He is the managing member, founder and chairman of the Board of Governors of Kopernik Global Investors.
Prior to Kopernik, Dave managed the $2.7 billion Global Value Long/Short Equity portfolio at Vinik Asset Management, where he was a director and head of the Global Value team (July 2012 through March 2013). Prior to this, Dave was co-founder, chief investment officer, co-president and lead portfolio manager of Tradewinds Global Investors, LLC, a $38 billion (at February 2012) investment firm. He continually managed equity portfolios for Tradewinds (inclusive of its two predecessor firms) from October 1998 through February 2012. He was the portfolio manager for the firm’s Global All-Cap strategy, North American All-Cap strategy, and Global Long/Short strategy, among others and directly managed more than $20 billion assets at the time of his departure. As CIO, Dave directed Tradewinds’ investment activities, including portfolio management, research, trading and risk management. His long-term performance has led to recognition by nationally known publications such as Bloomberg and Morningstar, and to several awards by Lipper and others for top performance in global equity fund management.
From 1996 through 1998 Dave was a senior portfolio manager at Cramblit & Carney. He began his career with Farmers Group, Inc. where over the course of 14 years, he worked his way up from securities analyst/trader to portfolio manager and eventually to director of research and lead portfolio manager for both equity and fixed income strategies. At the time of his departure in 1996, Dave was acting as Farmers’ chief investment officer responsible for $16 billion of investable assets.
Dave earned his bachelor’s degree from University of California, Davis, and his MBA from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. He has received the CFA designation and is a member of CFA Institute and CFA Society of Tampa Bay.