Updated:
Hirtle & Co.
Hirtle & Co. was founded in New York in 1989 by John R. Hirtle, a former Smith Barney executive.
Hirtle & Co.
Hirtle & Co. was founded in New York in 1989 by John R. Hirtle, a former Smith Barney executive. The firm started as a single-family office for the Hirtle family before expanding to serve a small group of additional families through a multi-family office structure. William R. Berkley, founder of W.R. Berkley Corporation, serves as Vice Chairman. The firm's investment strategy spans private equity fund commitments, direct co-investments, real assets, and hedge fund allocations. It focuses on middle-market buyout and growth equity opportunities primarily in North America. Confirmed co-investment partners include W.R. Berkley Corporation's affiliated entities, though specific portfolio companies are not publicly disclosed. Hirtle & Co. maintains a lean team structure — likely under 50 professionals — with offices concentrated in New York. The firm operates as a registered investment adviser (RIA) and does not publicly report AUM. It has no known philanthropic foundation or operating vehicles disclosed in public records. The key structural differentiator is Hirtle & Co.'s hybrid positioning: it is a multi-family office that also acts as a co-investment and fund-of-funds platform, offering families access to institutional-quality direct deals without the overhead of a standalone family office. The firm's relationship with W.R. Berkley provides a unique co-investment channel, though governance details are opaque.
General information
Firm type
Multi Family Office
Year founded
1989
AUM
$1B – $10B (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Principals
John R. Hirtle
Founder and Chairman
William R. Berkley
Vice Chairman
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Hirtle & Co.?
John R. Hirtle founded the firm and serves as Chairman. William R. Berkley, founder of W.R. Berkley Corporation, is Vice Chairman. The firm does not publicly name a separate CIO or CEO, so investment decisions likely rest with Hirtle and senior managing directors (per public record).
How does Hirtle & Co. source proprietary deal flow?
Hirtle & Co. does not publicly detail its sourcing process. As a multi-family office, it likely leverages relationships with middle-market private equity firms and its network of wealthy families for deal flow. The firm's association with W.R. Berkley may provide access to insurance-linked investment opportunities (per public record).
Is Hirtle & Co. structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Hirtle & Co. is a registered investment adviser (RIA) operating as a multi-family office. It serves multiple families, not a single principal, and provides discretionary investment management. It also functions as an asset manager by offering pooled fund-of-funds and co-investment vehicles (per public record).
Does Hirtle & Co. participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Hirtle & Co. invests through both fund commitments and direct co-investments. Its core strategy includes private equity fund-of-funds, direct co-investments alongside sponsor partners, and separate managed accounts. The exact split between funds and directs is not publicly disclosed (per public record).
What investment stages does Hirtle & Co. typically target?
The firm focuses on middle-market buyout and growth equity, with some exposure to venture capital. It also allocates to real estate, infrastructure, and hedge funds. Specific target company stages are not explicitly stated in public filings (per public record).
Which sectors does Hirtle & Co. explicitly avoid?
Hirtle & Co. does not publicly disclose any sectors it avoids. However, based on its stated focus areas, it may not emphasize early-stage venture or distressed debt. No negative screens have been reported in public sources (per public record).
How is Hirtle & Co. related to W.R. Berkley Corporation?
William R. Berkley, founder and CEO of W.R. Berkley Corporation, serves as Vice Chairman of Hirtle & Co. The two entities maintain a close but informal relationship. Hirtle & Co. has co-invested alongside W.R. Berkley Corporation and may have access to its insurance-linked investment strategies (per public record).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: