Gryphon Investors partner Grady eyed for Trump appointment

Robert Grady, a partner at Gryphon Investors and the former New Jersey State Investment Council chairman,  is being floated for a role on president-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet, according to several news reports.

Reports from Politico, The Huffington Post and The Daily Caller indicate Grady could be tapped to lead either the U.S. Department of the Interior or the U.S. Department of Energy.

Grady previously was a general partner and managing director of Cheyenne Capital Fund. Before that, he for nine years led U.S. venture and growth investing at Carlyle Group. He also worked for the Office of Management and Budget during President George H.W Bush’s administration.

New Jersey Gov. and Trump confidante Chris Christie appointed Grady to New Jersey’s investment council in 2010. He stepped down from the voluntary position in 2014. Christie was leading Trump’s transition team until Friday, when his role was diminished in favor of Vice President-elect Mike Pence, according to reports.

During his time on the council, New Jersey’s portfolio of private equity assets grew to roughly $7 billion from $4.2 billion, according to state investment reports. The state’s pension portfolio generated a 12 percent annualized return between the 2011 and 2014 fiscal years.

Grady contributed to several Republican campaigns, including Christie’s failed campaign for the presidency, during the 2016 election cycle, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Grady did not respond to a voicemail request for comment.

Action Item: For more information about Robert Grady, see his biography at www.gryphon-inv.com

Bob Grady, chairman of the New Jersey State Investment Council and managing director at Cheyenne Capital Fund, speaks at PartnerConnect West 2013. Photo by Buyouts Insider