Ben Samild

Overview

Ben Samild brings over two decades of extensive global investment and portfolio management experience across hedge funds, alternatives, debt, and multi-asset strategy to his role as Chief Strategist at Abu Dhabi Investment Council. In his role, he is responsible for the overall strategic asset allocation of the firm, including setting up ADIC's capital budget, managing the overlay portfolio, and overseeing interest rate and foreign exchange hedging activities.

Samild is known for his devotion to the total portfolio approach he calls 'joined up,' which runs against the textbook approach and is less efficient as a result, but that is a trade-off the fund is willing to make for the sake of greater effectiveness. The Future Fund's performance exceeded its return benchmarks during Samild's tenure as CIO.

Education

Samild holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Arts (Honors) from the University of Melbourne, a Master of Applied Finance from FINSIA, and has completed the Leadership for the 21st Century Program at Harvard Kennedy School with a focus on Adaptive Leadership Development. His undergraduate degree majored in behavioral finance, psychology and history.

Career History

• Chief Strategist, Abu Dhabi Investment Council (2025-present)
• Chief Investment Officer, Future Fund (August 2023-September 2025)
• Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Construction, Future Fund (2021-2023)
• Head of Alternatives, Future Fund (2013-2021)
• Head of Investment Strategy, LUCRF Super (prior to 2013)
• Head of Financial Research, Elysium Capital (earlier career)

The Future Fund was seven years old and managing less than $90 billion when Samild joined in 2013, initially as director of alternatives. A decade later he was appointed chief investment officer and the fund stood at $206 billion.

What Ben Samild Could Bring to Chief Strategist at Abu Dhabi Investment Council:

Samild's transition to ADIC represents a significant shift for the sovereign wealth fund, as he led the Future Fund's strategic investment direction and performance transformation, holding multiple senior roles and driving major structural reforms, cross-asset coordination, and macro-informed allocation strategies that delivered exceptional returns. His expertise in developing innovative managed futures strategies and advancing risk-managed investment models at Elysium Capital, combined with his longstanding devotion to the 'joined-up' whole-of-portfolio approach, suggests he will likely implement similar strategic frameworks at ADIC to optimize its global investment positioning.