Strive Asset Management, the investment firm co-founded by Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, has recently appointed former Treasury Department lawyer Alexandra Gaiser as its new General Counsel. Bloomberg Law reports that Gaiser previously worked on regulatory affairs at the bitcoin-focused fintech startup River Financial Inc, and held a variety of roles under former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Strive Asset Management indicated their confidence in the team they have assembled for the coming years of company growth. Alongside appointing Gaiser, the firm also brought in Donald McArdle as its new Chief Compliance Officer. McArdle, a Boston-based professional, has nearly 16 years of experience at State Street Global Advisors Inc.
Both Gaiser and McArdle joined Strive in September, as the firm crossed the $1 billion asset mark. Ramaswamy, who had portrayed Strive as a viable investment alternative to BlackRock Inc., stepped down as Executive Chairman this year.
Gaiser’s predecessor is Rachel Paulose, a former litigation partner at DLA Piper based in Minneapolis, who once served as the top federal prosecutor in Minnesota. Gaiser initially started her career at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington. McArdle replaces interim compliance chief Robert Roach Jr., who assisted in launching Strive’s compliance team and will continue to serve as a senior compliance adviser.
Strive has also reported personnel changes involving two other employees. Its former head of proxy services, Matthew Kopko, now serves as Senior Vice President for Legal and Compliance. In contrast, Corey Skerl left his role of Director of Corporate Governance at the firm last month.
Strive has recently pivoted towards a focus of ‘shareholder primacy,’ seeking to move beyond ‘woke’ investment practices, as reported earlier. The firm is also currently defending itself in a lawsuit filed by Joyce Rosely, its former co-head of international sales and distribution.