Biography
Klaas P. Baks PhD is a recognized thought-leader in alternative investments and entrepreneurial finance. Dr. Baks is the Co-Founder and Director of the Emory Center for Alternative Investments. Dr. Baks has been a Finance Professor at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School since 2002.
Dr. Baks’s research and teaching focuses on issues in alternative investments, entrepreneurial finance and investment management, and he has published papers in numerous academic and business journals, including the Wall Street Journal. He teaches courses in private equity, venture capital and entrepreneurial finance at Emory and has been recognized with eight awards, including Emory University's highest award for teaching excellence, the Emory Williams Distinguished Teaching Award, the Marc F. Adler Prize for Teaching Excellence awarded by alumni and the Donald R. Keough Award for Excellence.
Dr. Baks serves as director or advisor for over 13 companies and investment funds with over $7 billion in assets under management, including Emory Investment Management (Emory University's endowment), JOYN (investments), Kruger Capital (private equity), Peachtree Hotel Group (real estate), Pensare Acquisition Corporation (NASDAQ: WRLSU, telecom), Transcardiac Therapeutics (health care), Triton Value Partners (strategic consulting) and TWO Capital Partners (real estate). An active member of the Atlanta community, Dr. Baks serves on the board of the Michael C. Carlos Museum and the Investment Committee of the Westminster Schools Board of Trustees.
Prior to joining Emory University, Dr. Baks held positions at Fuji Bank in Tokyo, Japan, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell in Hong Kong and the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC.
Dr. Baks studied at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (PhD in Finance), Brown University (Master’s in Economics), Groningen University (Master’s in Econometrics, cum laude) and Leiden University (Diploma in Japanese Language and Business Studies). He spent two years at Harvard University as part of his doctoral research at Wharton on the performance of actively managed mutual funds.
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Dr. Baks resides with his wife and son in Atlanta, Georgia.
Education
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PhDThe Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania2002
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MABrown University1997
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MScGroningen University1995
Media Appearances
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May 18, 2016InvestopediaManagers of concentrated funds have outperformed the main holdings in larger traditional funds because the stocks they bet on have outperformed those key holdings more the more broadly diversified fund group.
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September 27, 2014Investment News"Celebrity sells. And it can sell mutual funds as well as it sells sneakers.” Professor Baks is featured in this article by Investment News.
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May 13, 2014The Wall Street JournalProfessor Baks is featured in this article by The Wall Street Journal.
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October 15, 2011The Wall Street Journal"Scan the list of the worst-performing mutual funds of 2011, and you will run across a slew of formerly highflying fund managers whose picks have crashed and burned.” Professor Baks is featured in this article for the Wall Street Journal.