Duncan O'Brien joins Cox Enterprises in corporate strategy role

Cox Enterprises has named Duncan O'Brien as senior vice president and general manager of corporate strategy and investments. He will report to Cox Enterprises' Executive Vice President Alex Taylor, who oversees the company's long-term investments, the Cox Innovation Fund and the company's investment in True North Venture Partners.

O'Brien will lead Cox's corporate strategy and a team that will focus on diversification and long-term growth outside of the company's core businesses. Leveraging his extensive investment banking, M&A and investment experience, he will also serve as an adviser to Cox's existing portfolio of companies as they explore growth opportunities.  

"Cox Enterprises is a $17 billion company with a rich history of diversification and making bold investments," said Taylor. "We are a media, telecommunications and automotive company, all of which we remain committed to. With Duncan's 30 years of investment experience, we will continue to seek exciting, new opportunities that align with our strengths and values and offer attractive long-term growth and returns. I am pleased to welcome Duncan to Cox and look forward to working with him to help us achieve our goals."

In addition to the creation of O'Brien's team, Cox is embracing growth through investments and adjacent business opportunities for its existing businesses, as well as through entrepreneurial partnerships. Over the last year, Cox has invested billions in its core business lines by acquiring full ownership of its major automotive companies, delivering Gigabit broadband service for residential customers, and expanding its portfolio of digital savings apps.

O'Brien brings three decades of experience in corporate mergers, acquisitions and investments to this role. He most recently served as senior managing director of M&A transitions for TIAA-CREF in New York City, with responsibility for leading the integration of TIAA-CREF's $6.25 billion acquisition of Nuveen Investments.

Prior to TIAA-CREF, he was general manager of Global Business Development at General Electric Company, where he focused on GE's Aviation and Transportation businesses, GE Capital, the Global Research Center, GE Ventures, the Software Center of Excellence, Acquisition Integration, and the company's operations in China and sub-Saharan Africa. He also led training courses on M&A, negotiations, acquisition integration, and joint ventures and other partnerships.

Prior to GE, he formed his own company, Crescendo Capital Partners, LLC, an investment banking and private investment boutique in Kansas City, served as vice chairman and director of investment banking for George K. Baum and Company, a regional investment banking firm headquartered in Kansas City, and held a number of different positions at Goldman, Sachs and Co., where he provided financial advisory, capital raising, and M&A advisory services and led the company's Australasian business from 1993 to 1995.

O'Brien received a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's of business administration degree from Stanford University.