Kimberly K. Walin

With an extensive background in the consumer area as a retail analyst, portfolio manager & retail executive, Walin worked for 25 years on Wall Street developing her insights into the supermarket, broadlines, hardlines and luxury sectors; gaining further acumen by managing an omni-channel accessories brand.

Walin started her career as a sell side analyst working at Prudential-Bache, Lehman Brothers and Furman Selz/ING Barings.  She was involved in financings for leading retailers — including acting as the lead analyst for the IPO of Federated Department Stores (Macy’s) and AutoZone.  Walin also served as President of the NYC-based Retail Analyst Group. During this period she was named an All-Star Analyst by The Wall Street Journal, ranking #1 for earnings estimate accuracy and a member of the Institutional Investor All-Star Team.  Walin then went on to serve as the U.S. Equity Research Director at ING Barings.

Walin subsequently transitioned to the buy side, becoming a partner at Duquesne Capital Management in 2000, the leading macro hedge fund led by Stan Druckenmiller.  At Duquesne, she oversaw the company’s retail/consumer investments, provided consumer data from a macro perspective & ran an internal investment portfolio.  During her tenure at Duquense, Walin hired JJK Research Associates as an outside consultant to help analyze retail trends & operators.  Walin went on to run her own hedge fund, Venn Capital Management with former Duquense colleagues.  She also served as an advisor for the internal fund of funds of General Atlantic, a leading private equity firm, reviewing & analyzing their outside hedge fund investments.

In 2011, with the former CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue, Walin co-founded & served as President of Walin & Wolff LLC.  The company operated specialty boutiques in CT & NY featuring leading designer shoes, handbags, accessories & developed a private brand offering as well as operating an ecommerce site.

Recent projects include strategic & brand development and market positioning for The Corbin District in partnership with Hardylon Creative. The Corbin District is a multi-use retail, office and residential project currently being developed in downtown Darien, CT.

Kim has a B.A. from Smith College and served on her alma mater’s Investment Committee for their endowment and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Adam J Lewis Academy in Bridgeport, CT.