Early Life and Education
David G. Kabiller was born on July 2, 1963, in Chicago, Illinois, to a Jewish family. He showed an early interest in academics, and his foundation was laid with a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University, where he received an athletic scholarship to play tennis and was named to the Big Ten's Academic All-Conference team. Kabiller later obtained an M.B.A. from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.
Rise to Success
After graduating, Kabiller began his career as a vice president at Goldman, Sachs & Co. He played a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining relationships with chief investment officers of significant pension and endowment funds. Kabiller's career took a major turn when he co-founded AQR Capital Management in 1998, alongside Cliff Asness, John M. Liew, and Robert Krail. As Head of Business Development at AQR, he initiated AQR's international expansion and introduction of mutual funds. Kabiller initiated the AQR University symposia series and the AQR Insight Award.
Key Business Strategies
Kabiller has been instrumental in AQR’s adoption of a systematic, research-driven approach to investment. AQR's strategies often invest in stocks and other securities based on attributes, factors like value and momentum, believed to produce higher returns over time. He is a CFA charterholder. Kabiller also established the QUANTA Academy program within AQR, focusing on employee development.
Philanthropy
David Kabiller's commitment extends beyond the financial world through significant philanthropic contributions. He serves on the Northwestern University Board of Trustees and has donated to several academic and athletic scholarship programs. Kabiller has also created numerous prizes and programs, including the Kabiller Prize in Nanoscience and Nanomedicine, the Kabiller Young Investigator Award, and the NU for Life program. In 2021, Kabiller endowed the Kabiller Science of Empathy Prize at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.