Bridgewater Names Karen Karniol-Tambour as Third CIO

Hedge fund titan Bridgewater Associates has named Karen Karniol-Tambour as its third co-chief investment officer, joining Bob Prince and Greg Jensen in leading the Investment Committee. Karniol-Tambour is the first woman to hold the position at the $125 billion hedge fund.

Karniol-Tambour’s appointment comes as Bridgewater continues to focus on its leadership after billionaire founder Ray Dalio ceded control of the firm. Dalio stepped down as CEO in 2017 and chairman at the end of 2021. Bar Dea and Mark Bertolini were named co-CEOs in January of 2022.

“This marks another milestone in Karen’s incredible career — over the last 16 years she has become a trusted advisor to our clients, a role model for our best rising talent, and one of our most important leaders at the forefront of a new generation,” said Nir Bar Dea, the firm’s co-chief executive officer.

Jensen recruited Karniol-Tambour in 2006, when she joined as an investment associate on its fixed-income team. She went on to become the head of investment research and collaborated closely with Jenson, Prince, and Dalio, who founded Bridgewater in 1975.