Key Takeaways
- • The University of Chicago Booth School of Business appointed Robert (Bobby) A. Stover, Jr. as inaugural executive director of its Family Office Initiative (FOI), announced May 11, 2026.
- • Stover brings more than 30 years advising family enterprises, family offices and their principals across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America, and retired from EY in 2025 as Co-Global Family Enterprise Leader and Americas Family Enterprise & Family Office Leader.
- • The FOI, launched in October 2024, runs four pillars: curriculum, research, networking and executive education, positioning Booth as one of the first major U.S. academic institutions with a comprehensive family office program.
- • Booth's second annual invite-only FOI Summit, "Innovating and Navigating the Family Office," will be held in Chicago this month.
Summary
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business has named Robert (Bobby) A. Stover, Jr. inaugural executive director of its Family Office Initiative (FOI), according to the school's announcement. Stover is recognized as a global leader in family enterprise and family office governance, multigenerational wealth strategy and enterprise transformation, and has more than 30 years of experience advising family enterprises, family offices, principals and family members across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
Stover retired from Ernst & Young LLP (EY) in 2025 as Co-Global Family Enterprise Leader and Americas Family Enterprise & Family Office Leader. At EY he architected several platforms, including the EY Family Enterprise DNA framework and the Family Enterprise Summit, and built the Family Office Advisory Services practice, which contributed to the establishment of the EY Family Enterprise Center of Excellence. He has been recognized as a Family Capital Top 50 Global Family Advisor (2024) and Top 100 Global Family Influencer (2022).
The FOI was launched in October 2024 to advance education, research and networking for current and future family office leaders, drawing on data-driven insights from Booth faculty and resources from collaborators. The initiative operates across four pillars: curriculum supporting a comprehensive academic program, research leveraging faculty thought leadership, networking to strengthen connections among industry leaders, and executive education. John C. Heaton, Myron S. Scholes Distinguished Service Professor of Finance and Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation – Family Office Initiative Faculty Director, said Stover's background will support the growth of the program.
Booth's second annual FOI Summit, titled "Innovating and Navigating the Family Office," will take place this month in Chicago as an invite-only gathering of influential family office leaders.
Stover retired from Ernst & Young LLP (EY) in 2025 as Co-Global Family Enterprise Leader and Americas Family Enterprise & Family Office Leader. At EY he architected several platforms, including the EY Family Enterprise DNA framework and the Family Enterprise Summit, and built the Family Office Advisory Services practice, which contributed to the establishment of the EY Family Enterprise Center of Excellence. He has been recognized as a Family Capital Top 50 Global Family Advisor (2024) and Top 100 Global Family Influencer (2022).
The FOI was launched in October 2024 to advance education, research and networking for current and future family office leaders, drawing on data-driven insights from Booth faculty and resources from collaborators. The initiative operates across four pillars: curriculum supporting a comprehensive academic program, research leveraging faculty thought leadership, networking to strengthen connections among industry leaders, and executive education. John C. Heaton, Myron S. Scholes Distinguished Service Professor of Finance and Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation – Family Office Initiative Faculty Director, said Stover's background will support the growth of the program.
Booth's second annual FOI Summit, titled "Innovating and Navigating the Family Office," will take place this month in Chicago as an invite-only gathering of influential family office leaders.
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