Michael Cook

Michael Cook is a Governing Body Fellow, Barclay Fellow and Chair of the Development Committee at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford. He was previously an Associate Fellow and member of the Principal’s Circle, which he will continue to attend in his new capacity.

Michael is the Founder and Chairman of SouthernSun Asset Management, Inc., a firm he established in January 1989. With over 35 years’ experience in the asset management industry, Michael has been instrumental in SouthernSun’s success, frequently appearing on CNBC, Fox Business News, and Bloomberg Television.

Under his leadership, the firm has received accolades from financial publications such as the Wall Street Journal Winners’ Circle, Bloomberg Markets, Lipper Fund Awards, and Money Magazine’s Best Performers. Michael and SouthernSun’s achievements have also been featured in Forbes, Barron’s, and other industry-leading periodicals. In 2023 Michael passed the role of Chief Investment Officer over to his son Phillip.

Around Oxford, Michael, together with his wife Jennifer, is a member of the Benefactor’s Council at the Dragon School and helped establish the Cook Fellow’s Programme at Radley College. Beyond Oxford, Michael contributes to educational and community initiatives as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, University of Memphis.

He has served as of the Capital Campaign Steering Committee Chair at the University of Memphis since 2020. In recognition of his contributions, Michael has been honoured with the University of Memphis Distinguished Alumni Award and The Golden Tiger Award. In 2014 he was inducted into the FCBE Hall of Fame with the creation of the Cook Analytics and Trading Lab.

Michael serves on several Boards, including Omeq Medical, Constellation Properties, Cave Pictures Publishing, and Thriving Cities Group, a non-profit organization whose mission is to equip communities and institutions with resources to lead change so that all can thrive together.

He is also the co-founder of Blackbay Global Advisors, LLC, a family investment holding company and he provided seed capital to Kinrise Real Estate, Ltd., a London based real estate investment company dedicated to renewal of all things cities, where he continues to serve as an Advisory Board member.