John P. Havens

John P. Havens is a former business executive and recognized leader in the financial services industry. Prior to his retirement in 2019, Mr. Havens served as Partner and Non-Executive Chairman at Napier Park Capital, an alternative asset management firm originally spun out of Citigroup. During his time at Napier, assets grew from $5.5 billion to $13 billion. Mr. Havens had previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Citigroup, where he was instrumental to the firm’s stabilization following the 2008 financial crisis. He also served as Chairman of Citigroup Alternative investments following Citigroup’s acquisition of Old Lane Capital, of which Mr. Havens was a founding member. At Old Lane, John launched a record-breaking $4.5 billion multi-strategic hedge fund.

Mr. Havens’ career also included almost two decades with Morgan Stanley, leading the institutional equity division and serving as a member of the firm’s management committee. He began his career in 1979 as a trader of convertible securities at Kidder Peabody. Mr. Havens has served on numerous NYSE committees and was a member of the Board of Directors for the NASDAQ markets.

Throughout his professional life and through his retirement, Mr. Havens has dedicated his time to numerous philanthropic efforts. He is currently the benefactor of seven institutional scholarships, including the W. Paul Havens Scholarships at Harvard College, the Havens Family Scholarship at Boston College, the Havens Jefferson Scholars at the University of Virginia, the Wendy D. Havens Professorship of Women’s Health at Columbia University Medical School, and the W. Paul and Ida Havens Professorship at Thomas Jefferson Medical College for Infectious Diseases.

Mr. Havens is a firm supporter of programs aimed at honoring and supporting our veterans in their transition back into civilian life. While at Citigroup, he was an original supporter of Veterans on Wall Street, an initiative that promotes career development, support and retention of veterans throughout the global financial service industry. He continues to support The Mission Continues, a nonprofit organization that empowers veterans as they face the challenge of adjusting to life at home.

Mr. Havens is particularly engaged in improving the educational opportunities of underprivileged children. He served on the board of Classroom Inc. for 15 years, a nonprofit organization that helps children in high-poverty communities develop literacy and leadership skills. He also supports the Woodlynde School, a K-12 school for students with learning differences. Along with supporting youth with special educational needs, Mr. Havens has been a benefactor to Sail to Prevail which provides life-changing experiences to disabled children. In 2012, he sponsored a sailboat at the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Mr. Havens has also become an advocate for those who treat, study, and struggle with deadly diseases. After the loss of his son, Mr. Havens has supported numerous scientists researching schizophrenia at the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. He is a board member of the New York Genome Center where he chairs the finance committee. He is also on Mt. Sinai Health System’s advisory board. He supports The Queen’s Nursing Institute in Scotland, Montefiore Hospital’s cardiac research, and the Chasin’ a Dream Foundation, which provides life-changing assistance to families with children battling cancer and other life-threatening conditions. He was an early benefactor of New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. He is also a weekly volunteer at Glen Cove Hospital’s neurological and physical rehab center.