Press Releases Chicago Booth Names Robert (Bobby) A. Stover, Jr. Inaugural Executive Director of Its Family Office Initiative
- May 11, 2026
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business today announced the appointment of Robert (Bobby) A. Stover, Jr. as the inaugural executive director of its Family Office Initiative (FOI).
Stover joins Booth’s FOI as a globally recognized leader in family enterprise and family office governance, multigenerational wealth strategy, and enterprise transformation. With more than 30 years of experience advising family enterprises, family offices, their principals and family members across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, he has guided families and boards through some of their most complex strategic, operational and governance challenges.
“I’m honored to step into this new role and support the continued build out of the preeminent hub for family office leaders across the globe,” said Stover. “Chicago Booth has long been a leader in rigorous thinking and practical insight, and its Family Office Initiative is uniquely positioned to support principals and executives as they make decisions that will span generations.”
Launched in October 2024, Booth’s FOI advances the education, research and networking needs of current and future family office leaders around the world, allowing them to capitalize on data-driven insights from Booth faculty, as well as resources from the initiative’s collaborators. Booth is one of the first major academic institutions in the country to implement a comprehensive program focused on supporting family office leaders, making the school a pathbreaker in this space.
“Chicago Booth’s Family Office Initiative offers a differentiated approach through unparalleled global engagement, collaborative learning, and research-driven thought leadership,” said John C. Heaton, the Myron S. Scholes Distinguished Service Professor of Finance and Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation – Family Office Initiative Faculty Director. “Bobby’s impressive background and expertise will support us as we continue to grow this world-class program, and advance our impact on current and future family office leaders around the world.”
Stover has been recognized as a Family Capital Top 50 Global Family Advisor (2024) and Top 100 Global Family Influencer (2022). He retired from Ernst & Young, LLP (EY) in 2025 as Co-Global Family Enterprise Leader and Americas Family Enterprise & Family Office Leader. During his tenure, Stover architected and led several of the firm’s most successful platforms, including the EY Family Enterprise DNA framework, the Family Enterprise Summit, and built the Family Office Advisory Services practice – each of which led to the establishment of the EY Family Enterprise Center of Excellence and elevated EY’s global reputation as the leading advisor to family enterprises, both family-owned operating companies and family offices.
Booth’s FOI advances research that can drive progress in the global family office market by leveraging its esteemed faculty and their cutting-edge thought leadership. The initiative executes across four key pillars: supporting curriculum at Booth to create a comprehensive academic program and train the next generation of family office leaders; furthering groundbreaking research, by harnessing the school’s intellectual capital; connecting leaders in this growing, dynamic industry, to build and strengthen networks; and executive education programming.
In support of its networking efforts, Booth’s second annual FOI Summit will take place this month in Chicago. The exclusive event, “Innovating and Navigating the Family Office,” is an invite-only gathering of the world’s most influential family office leaders, and offers a rare opportunity to engage in confidential discussions with fellow global leaders in the family office space.
Contact Booth Media Relations
Marielle Sainvilus
Director of Public Relations and Communications
Phone: 773.531.2894