Finance | Insurance 2023: JAFFRAY WOODRIFF

While many on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) struggle to fit their bios into allotted characters, Woodriff’s says volumes: “Embrace Simplicity, Beware Complexity,” declares the co-founder and CEO of Quantitative Investment Management, a Charlottesville-based hedge fund.

Woodriff, Michael Geismar and Greyson Williams co-founded QIM in 2003. Woodriff also invests in early-stage startups through his family office fund, The Felton Group. Additionally, he owns the CODE (Center of Developing Entrepreneurs) Building in Charlottesville, which provides office and coworking spaces for entrepreneurs.

The Charlottesville native’s connection to his hometown remains strong. In 2019, Woodriff and his wife, Merrill, both of whom are University of Virginia graduates, donated $120 million through their Quantitative Foundation to establish the U.Va. School of Data Science.

The foundation previously gifted $12.4 million to establish U.Va.’s McArthur Squash Center at the Boar’s Head Sports Club, which opened in 2013. The facility is named for his late grandfather, Douglas McArthur. Soon after, Woodriff received the U.S. Squash Special Recognition Award for his contributions to squash. The sport also gets a shoutout in his X bio.