About George Walker
George Walker is the CEO and Chairman of Neuberger Berman, one of the world's largest independent, employee-owned investment management firms with over $500 billion in assets under management. Under Walker's leadership, Neuberger Berman has evolved from a traditional asset management firm into a diversified investment platform that spans public markets, private equity, private credit, real estate, and increasingly, technology and deep-tech investments.
Walker became CEO in 2009, following Neuberger Berman's independence from Lehman Brothers after the 2008 financial crisis. His leadership through this existential moment and the subsequent transformation of the firm into an employee-owned, fully independent entity is one of the most remarkable turnaround stories in financial services. Under his stewardship, the firm's AUM has grown from approximately $170 billion to over $500 billion.
Most recently, Neuberger Berman led Ayar Labs' $500 million Series E round, signaling the firm's growing appetite for deep-tech investments at the intersection of semiconductors and AI infrastructure. This investment reflects Walker's conviction that traditional asset managers must evolve to capture the outsized returns available in technology, particularly in the companies building the physical infrastructure powering the AI revolution.
Net Worth
George Walker's wealth is primarily derived from his long tenure as CEO and Chairman of Neuberger Berman and his ownership stake in the employee-owned firm. As the leader of a firm managing over $500 billion, Walker's compensation and equity position reflect the scale and success of the organization he has built.
Neuberger Berman manages over $500 billion in assets under management across a broad range of strategies including equities, fixed income, private equity, private credit, and alternatives. As CEO and Chairman of this employee-owned firm, Walker holds one of the largest individual ownership stakes in the business.
Walker's most significant achievement is the transformation of Neuberger Berman from a subsidiary of Lehman Brothers into a fully independent, employee-owned firm that has more than tripled its AUM. This transformation has created substantial value for the firm's employee-owners and positioned Neuberger Berman as one of the most respected independent investment management firms globally.
Investment Strategy
George Walker's investment strategy at Neuberger Berman reflects the firm's multi-asset, multi-strategy approach to investment management. Unlike venture capital firms that focus exclusively on early-stage technology, Neuberger Berman operates across the full spectrum of public and private markets, deploying capital through equities, fixed income, private equity, private credit, real estate, and alternative strategies.
Under Walker's leadership, Neuberger Berman has increasingly moved into the innovation economy, recognizing that the most transformative companies often remain private longer and require sophisticated institutional investors who can provide both capital and strategic value. The firm's investment in Ayar Labs exemplifies this evolution, deploying institutional-scale capital into a deep-tech company building the optical interconnect technology essential for next-generation AI data centers.
Walker's approach is characterized by patient capital, long-term thinking, and disciplined risk management, values rooted in Neuberger Berman's heritage as a fiduciary-first firm. He believes that the convergence of AI, semiconductors, and advanced computing infrastructure represents a generational investment opportunity, and has positioned the firm to capture value across this technology stack through both private and public market strategies.
Notable Quotes
“The infrastructure powering AI is every bit as important as the AI models themselves. Companies like Ayar Labs are building the physical foundation of the AI revolution.”
— Neuberger Berman
“Employee ownership is our secret weapon. When everyone has a stake in the outcome, the alignment with our clients is absolute.”
— Financial Services Conference
Contact Information
For investment inquiries or to learn more about Neuberger Berman's investment strategies, visit the firm's website at nb.com. Neuberger Berman is headquartered in New York City with offices worldwide.
For institutional inquiries or media relations, contact Neuberger Berman's client services or communications departments through their official website.
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Contact via LessieFrequently Asked Questions
Who is George Walker?
What is Neuberger Berman?
Neuberger Berman is a global investment management firm managing over $500 billion in assets. It is employee-owned and operates across equities, fixed income, private equity, private credit, real estate, and alternatives.
What is the Ayar Labs investment?
Neuberger Berman led Ayar Labs' $500 million Series E round. Ayar Labs develops optical interconnect technology that is critical for AI data center infrastructure, enabling faster and more efficient data transfer.
How did Neuberger Berman become independent?
Neuberger Berman became independent following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008. Under George Walker's leadership, the firm transitioned to employee ownership and has grown its AUM from approximately $170 billion to over $500 billion.
Where did George Walker go to school?
George Walker earned his BA from Duke University and his MBA from Columbia Business School.
What is Neuberger Berman's investment strategy?
Neuberger Berman pursues a multi-asset, multi-strategy approach spanning public and private markets. Under Walker, the firm has expanded into innovation economy investments, including deep-tech and AI infrastructure companies.
What does employee ownership mean for Neuberger Berman?
Employee ownership means Neuberger Berman's professionals have a direct stake in the firm's success, creating strong alignment with clients. This structure has been a key factor in the firm's growth and talent retention under Walker's leadership.
How can I contact George Walker or Neuberger Berman?
Neuberger Berman can be reached through their website at nb.com. The firm is headquartered in New York City with offices worldwide. Institutional and media inquiries can be directed through the firm's official channels.