Catherine Duddy Wood is an American investor and founder who serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of ARK Invest, an investment management firm focused on disruptive innovation. She gained prominence for her investment strategies in emerging technologies and innovative companies, particularly through her actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ^[1]

Early Life and Education

Born in 1955 in Los Angeles, Wood is the eldest child of Irish immigrants Gerald and Mary Duddy. Her father worked as a radar systems engineer for both the Irish Army and the United States Air Force. She completed her education at Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school in Los Angeles, in 1974. Wood went on to graduate summa cum laude from the University of Southern California in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and economics. ^{[1] [2]}

Career Development

Wood's career in finance spans over four decades, beginning in 1977 at Capital Group as an assistant economist. Her early career included significant positions:

• Jennison Associates (1980-1998): Served as chief economist, analyst, portfolio manager, and managing director
• Tupelo Capital Management (1998): Co-founded this New York City-based hedge fund
• AllianceBernstein (2001-2014): Worked as CIO of global thematic strategies, managing $5 billion ^[4]

ARK Invest Foundation and Leadership

In 2014, Wood founded ARK Investment Management LLC after leaving AllianceBernstein, where her proposal for actively managed ETFs focused on disruptive innovation was considered too risky. The company name "ARK" was inspired by the Ark of the Covenant, reflecting Wood's religious background ^[1].

Investment Performance

Wood's flagship fund, ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK), has shown notable performance variations:

• 2020: Achieved top-performing status among global equity funds with assets over $1 billion ^[1]
• 2023: Ranked as the top-performing actively traded U.S. diversified ETF ^[1]
• 2021-2022: Experienced significant challenges, with a 24% decline in 2021 and became the worst-performing equity fund in Q1 2022 ^[1]

Personal Life

Wood resides in St. Petersburg, Florida ^[1]. She was previously married to Robert Wood, who passed away in 2018, and has three children ^[1]. Known for her strong Christian faith, Wood has been open about the influence of her religious beliefs on her business practices ^[1]. She maintains a significant personal investment in cryptocurrency, with approximately 25% of her net worth allocated to bitcoin as of 2024 ^[1].

Recognition and Impact

Wood was included in the inaugural 2021 Forbes 50 Over 50 list, recognizing her achievements as an entrepreneur and leader ^[1]. She has also established the Duddy Innovation Institute at her alma mater, Notre Dame Academy, to encourage girls to study disruptive innovation ^[1].