2017 Forty Under 40: Scott Davis

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Chief Investment Officer
Indiana Public Retirement System

Recognized as one of 14 “Rising Stars of Public Funds” by Institutional Investor News, Davis is responsible for a $30 billion pension plan for state davis.jpgemployees, teachers, police and firefighters.

Age: 33

Birthplace/hometown: Indianapolis

Family: wife, Marlena; son, Gavin, 5

Education: A self-labeled numbers geek from an early age—he founded a Wall Street Warriors club at Warren Central High School—Davis earned a degree in finance and accounting from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

Years with agency: 6

Getting here: After graduating, Davis started as a financial analyst at Motorola in Chicago but quickly moved back home to join the Indiana Finance Authority. Hired on as an analyst, he later became the state’s director of debt management, including the financing of Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center. “I feel great about how we ended up on those projects with finance costs extremely low,” Davis said. “And it’s reflected in the state’s AAA rating.” Next stop: the Indiana Public Retirement System, where he has held positions of director of public equity, deputy chief investment officer, and now, chief investment officer.

Major achievements during his tenure: The merger of the investment portfolios for the Public Employees Retirement Fund and Teachers Retirement Fund in 2011 and the $370 million in fee savings for members.

Transitional professional moment: “When Ryan Kitchell and Jenni Alvey hired me at the Indiana Finance Authority,” Davis said. “My wife and I were looking for a way to move closer to family back in Indiana, and I was hoping to land a job involved in capital markets.”

Family finances: With family members in the retirement plan—including his grandmother, who was a school cafeteria worker and front-desk assistant—Davis said Thanksgiving and Christmas “feel like another board meeting. [Relatives] don’t say, ‘Hi.’ Instead, they say, ‘Are you making money?’”

Favorite place in central Indiana: “Turn 1 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as the green flag waves each May.”•

Read more Forty Under 40 profiles.

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Story Continues Below

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In