While JCClark was founded in 2001, the investment history of its principals spans more than 40 years. In fact, the combined investment experience of our principals is close to 100 years.
John Clark is the co-founder of two significant predecessor firms that both bore his name. He and a partner started Connor Clark & Co. in 1977. Over the next 22 years he built the firm into Canada’s premier high net worth investment management firm employing more than 150 staff and managing approximately $3 billion. Connor Clark was focused predominantly on wealth management but also included a trust company, a leasing company and an offshore insurance firm.
In 1982 John and his partners launched Connor, Clark & Lunn, an institutional wealth management firm based in Vancouver, BC. John served as inaugural CEO and Chairman of the Board.
John served as Chairman of the Toronto Stock Exchange from 1994 to 1996 and also served on a number of other boards over his 40-year investing career.
In April 1999, Connor Clark was sold to the Royal Bank of Canada. At that time, John decided a long/short equity strategy was the most prudent way to preserve and grow the significant portion of his family's wealth realized on the sale to the Royal Bank. Since the 1980's John had managed several long/short equity limited partnerships for clients at Connor Clark. In May 1999 our flagship fund, the Preservation Trust, was launched by Connor Clark as a member of the RBC Financial Group.
Colin Stewart began his career in investment banking and then joined Connor Clark in 1998 as a member of the 20-person investment team. In 1999, Colin began working directly with John to manage the Preservation Trust. In order to grow their fund and business, John and Colin left RBC Financial Group and in February 2001, founded JCClark.
Today our firm is entrusted with approximately $300 million dollars of our clients' wealth and employs 14 professionals, including 4 Portfolio Managers, a Chief Operating Officer and a dedicated Chief Compliance Officer.
The firm manages three core strategies: the Preservation Trust, the Commonwealth Patriot Trust and the Focused Opportunities Fund, as well as several sector specific strategies.
