The Wisconsin
Alumni Research Foundation selected a new foundation director of
investments, the foundation announced Wednesday.

Carrie Thome,
former associate director of investment, has worked in WARF since
2001, and her new position includes managing an investment portfolio
worth an estimated $1.8 billion.

According to
WARF managing director Carl Gulbrandsen, the foundation started
looking for a new candidate when former director Tom Weaver left the
foundation late April for a position with Morgan Stanley, a financial
advisory company.

"The
foundation recognized her as being the perfect person for the
important position of director," said Janet Kelly, WARF
communications director.

"We made
[Thome] interim director of the group in April, and the work she did
in that time was great," Culbrandsen said. "She really stepped up
the task and proved herself to the management team and entire
foundation."

Thome's
years of experience at WARF — along with prior work as assistant
portfolio manager at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board — have
made her an expert in financial management, Kelly said.

Thome
received a bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate and a
master’s degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin.

"She made
my job of hiring a director, which could have potentially been a
stressful task, extremely easy," Culbrandsen said.

As official
director of WARF investments, Culbrandsen said Thome will be expected
to oversee the foundation's entire investment portfolio. WARF is an
independent and non-profit foundation with the goal of supporting
University of Wisconsin research.

Although
completely separate from the university, the two institutions work
closely with one another. The foundation puts innovations of UW's
laboratories on the marketplace in order to benefit the institution
and inventors.

"WARF has a
large portfolio of well over 1.5 billion dollars," Culbrandsen
said. "Our managing team is required to make sure that this money
is used responsibly, following the policies put into place by the
investment committee board."

Culbrandsen
emphasized the importance of having knowledgeable and dependable
employees working for WARF.

"The
success of the foundation depends on the strength of those who work
here," Culbrandsen said. "Managing the finances, which enable
important academic research, is no small responsibility."

In the last
year, WARF provided UW with more than $50 million for research. Since
1925, the foundation has given $915 million to fund research,
programs and other initiatives.

"Managing a
portfolio as large as the one WARF has calls for excellent
leadership," said Culbrandsen. "Thome's experience has prepared
her well for this position."