Euan Robertson Joins Simons Foundation as Chief Operating Officer

The Simons Foundation is pleased to announce that on April 1, Euan Robertson joined its leadership team as the foundation’s first chief operating officer (COO). As COO, Robertson will be responsible for the foundation’s operational and administrative functions.

Robertson comes to the foundation from Columbia University, where he advised senior faculty and administrators on issues of entrepreneurship, innovation, tech transfer and real estate development.

Prior to Columbia, Robertson served in a variety of senior economic development roles under both the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations, most recently as chief operating officer of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. During his time in city government, he focused particularly on projects designed to grow the New York City tech economy and strengthen relationships between research institutions and industry.

In addition to his work in the U.S., Robertson has held leadership roles in the private and not-for-profit sectors in the U.K. and Canada. These include being COO of the MaRS Discovery District, a not-for-profit innovation campus in Toronto; COO of a London-based internet startup; and technology strategist for both the U.K. National Health Service and the U.K.’s largest privately owned electricity generator, British Energy Group plc.

Robertson holds an M.B.A. with distinction from London Business School and an M.A. with honors from the University of St. Andrews.