James DeNaut

Board Treasurer

General Partner, Thurston Opportunities Fund.

Education

James DeNaut received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in 1984 and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1988, as well as an M.P.A. from Harvard Kennedy School in 1989.

Expertise

Before becoming General Partner of Thurston Opportunities Fund, DeNaut was the Senior Managing Director, Joint Head of International Investment Banking and Head of Americas Investment Banking at Nomura Securities International, Inc. He was responsible for building and leading the Americas Investment Banking franchise, a business that generated over $1B of cumulative revenues. He also coordinated global priorities and strategies for the firm, and was Co-CEO of Nomura’s U.S. regulated entity for financial products. For the decade prior to 2010, he was Managing Director, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking in the Americas for Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. And from 1995-2000 he was managing director of the Global Energy Group for Morgan, Stanley & Co.

Community Service

DeNaut has served as a Trustee of Northwestern University since 2008, and has been National Board Chair of Youth About Business since 2007. He is also a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich (CT), a board member of the Institute of Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (ISEN) and a board member of Horizons-Brunswick School.