David Rocker

David A. Rocker
Born	1943
Alma mater	Harvard College (magna cum laude), Harvard Business School (MBA)
Occupation(s)	Hedge fund manager, investment banker, financial analyst, columnist
Known for	Founder of Rocker Partners, LP

David A. Rocker (born 1943) is the founder of the hedge fund Rocker Partners, LP.

Rocker earned his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Harvard College and subsequently obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School. He and his wife, Marian, reside in both Florida and New Jersey and are parents to two sons.

Early life and career

Raised in West Orange, New Jersey, Rocker is the son of immigrants from Austria and Russia. After completing his studies at Harvard College, he served as a United States Navy officer for two years before pursuing his MBA.

In 1969, he began his professional journey at Mitchell Hutchins as a research analyst and investment banker. By 1972, Rocker became a general partner at the pioneering hedge fund Steinhardt, Fine, Berkowitz & Co., where he remained until 1981.

Subsequently, he joined Century Capital as a portfolio manager catering to institutional investors. Following Century Capital’s acquisition in 1985, Rocker established Rocker Partners with an initial capital of $25 million. The firm grew from its New York City base to include offices in Larkspur, California, and Millburn, New Jersey, while also overseeing Compass Holdings and Helmsman Holdings in the British Virgin Islands for international clients.

Rocker Partners was later restructured as Copper River Management, LLC. Upon Rocker's retirement in early 2007, full management responsibilities were assumed by co-manager Marc Cohodes.

A vocal proponent of short selling, Rocker highlighted its importance both as an independent investment approach and as a method to provide alternative viewpoints in markets typically dominated by bullish sentiment. He was recognized for candidly sharing market perspectives, testified before the House Subcommittee on capital markets in 2003, contributed articles to Barron's and other financial publications, and made frequent appearances on CNBC.

Philanthropy and personal life

Since retiring, Rocker and his wife have dedicated their efforts to philanthropy, with a focus on Jewish-related initiatives. He holds positions on the investment committees of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, he has delivered lectures at Harvard University, Rutgers Law School, Florida International University, and the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute.

External links

• Fortune, 'Lehman collapse puts hedge fund in dire straits'
• Transcript of Rocker testifying before House Subcommittee in 2003
• Rocker sells Martha Stewart Omnimedia shares
• FastCompany.com, How to Spot the Next Enron
• The New York Times, Rocker comments about America Online, 1996
• "Profile of a Short Seller", The New York Times, April 2006
• "Overstock.com May Seek $1 Billion From Rocker Partners" - May 12, 2006 - The New York Sun
• "Seven-figure donation fuels emergency campaign"
• "New York Magazine, James Cramer", June 2002