“In the 14 years this faculty chair has been awarded, we’ve seen tremendous value from the mentorship and networking opportunities provided by each of the veteran business leaders who have taken on the Fritzky Chair role,” said Jim Jiambalvo, the Orin and Janet Smith Endowed Dean of the Foster School. “John is a dynamic and well-respected business leader and an admired UW Foster alumnus who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to complement our ever-changing business curriculum. He’s brought energy, passion and commitment that inspires our students and engages our programs in focusing on what’s next in business education.”
The Edward V. Fritzky Endowed Chair in Leadership was established in 2003 by Amgen Inc. as a gift honoring the career of Edward Fritzky, retired chairman, president and CEO of Immunex. The chair position enables the Foster School to invite top business leaders to teach, mentor and collaborate with students, staff and faculty. Previous chairs include, Charles Pigott, former chairman, president and CEO of PACCAR Inc.; Howard Behar, president of Starbucks North America; and Paula Reynolds, CEO of Safeco Insurance.
Joining the select group of business trailblazers, Gabbert’s entrepreneurial journey qualifies him to provide behind-the-scenes insight into today’s evolving business environment. His experience launching PitchBook in the thick of the financial crisis and building it into the 750-person global organization it is today, offers real-world lessons for students and future-entrepreneurs entering the workforce. As a University of Washington graduate, Gabbert has been heavily involved in supporting the business school through recruiting, mentorship and serving as a regular judge in the UW Business Plan Competition (BPC), organized by the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship.
The Foster School of Business does an exceptional job of preparing students for the real world through its forward-thinking curriculum, world-class faculty and visiting faculty roles like the Fritzky Chair, which helps to bridge the classroom with the boardroom,” said John Gabbert, founder and CEO of PitchBook. “I’m truly honored to take on this role, not only to give back to the university that’s given me so much, but also to hopefully inspire tomorrow’s leading business owners and entrepreneurs.”
For more information about PitchBook and recruiting, click here.
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About PitchBook
PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides transparency into the capital markets to help professionals discover and execute opportunities with confidence and efficiency. PitchBook collects and analyzes detailed data on the entire venture capital, private equity and M&A landscape—including public and private companies, investors, funds, investments, exits and people. The company’s data and analysis are available through the PitchBook Platform, industry news and in-depth reports. Founded in 2007, PitchBook has offices in Seattle, New York and London and serves more than 12,000 professionals around the world. In 2016, Morningstar acquired PitchBook, which now operates as an independent subsidiary.
PitchBook Media Contact:
Bailey Fox and Nick McDonald
PR Managers
pr@pitchbook.com
206-823-3022