Gov. Bruce Rauner has appointed Mark J. Cozzi to the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) Board of Trustees.
Cozzi is the managing partner and founder of Lincoln Park Capital Group, which he founded in 2008. In 2011, he became senior managing director of the Electrum Group, an investment firm focused on the natural resources sector. He rejoined Lincoln Park Capital Group in 2014.
Cozzi served on both Gov. Rauner’s and Chicago Mayor Emanuel’s transition teams and is on the board of commissioners of the Chicago Housing Authority. Cozzi previously served as trustee of the Illinois State Board of Investment until his term expired earlier this month. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Business and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Cozzi replaces Francis Idehen who resigned last month. He will serve out the remaining four years of Idehen’s six-year term that expires in June 2021. The Illinois Senate must confirm his appointment.
Other members of the SURS Board of Trustees include Chairperson Tom Cross, Vice Chairperson Dorinda Miller, Treasurer John Engstrom, Aaron Ammons, Dennis Cullen, J. Fred Giertz, Paul R.T. Johnson Jr., Craig McCrohon, Steven Rock and Antonio Vasquez.
The SURS board is comprised of 11 members: four elected participating (active) SURS members, two elected annuitant (retired) SURS members, four members appointed by the governor, and the chairperson, appointed by the governor, who also serves as the chair of the Illinois State Board of Higher Education.