Board Members

Jan F. van Eck  

Jan F. van Eck  

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Van Eck Associates Corporation

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Van Eck Securities Corporation

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Van Eck Absolute Return Advisers Corporation

President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, VanEck Vectors ETF Trust

President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, VanEck Funds

President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, VanEck VIP Trust

• Joined VanEck in 1992.
• Has created a variety of international, emerging markets and commodity-related investment strategies in mutual fund, ETF, and alternative investment formats.
• 2013 Finalist for Fund Leader of the Year, Institutional Investor's Mutual Fund Industry Awards.
• From 1994 to 1998, established a fund management joint venture with Shenyin Wanguo Securities, one of the largest securities firms in China.
• Fellowship at The Council of Institutional Investors, focusing on shareholder rights, 1990.
• JD, Stanford University, 1991; BA (Phi Beta Kappa), Economics, Williams College, 1985.

Bruce J. Smith  

Member of the Board of Directors of Van Eck Associates Corporation  

Senior Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, VanEck  

• Joined VanEck in 1983.
• Director of various VanEck related entities including Van Eck Associates Corporation, Van Eck Securities Corporation, Van Eck Absolute Return Advisers Corporation and VanEck Asset Management B.V.
• Served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer of Van Eck Associates Corporation, Van Eck Securities Corporation and Van Eck Absolute Return Advisers Corporation until July 2018.
• Prior to joining VanEck, CPA at McGladrey & Pullen.
• Member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA).
• CPA, 1980; BS, Accounting, Fordham University, 1977.

Robert R. Grusky  

Member of the Board of Directors of Van Eck Associates Corporation  

• Since 2000, Founder and Managing Member of Hope Capital Management, LLC, an investment manager.
• In 2000, co-founded New Mountain Capital, LLC, an investment manager. Was a Principal and Managing Director from 2000 to 2005, Senior Advisor since 2005.
• In 1997, joined Honorable Ronald S. Lauder as Senior Advisor and Chief of Staff. In 1998, named President of RSL Investments Corporation.
• In 1990, appointed White House Fellow by President Bush. Served as Assistant for Special Projects to Secretary of Defense Cheney.
• In 1985, joined Goldman, Sachs & Co. as a member of its Mergers and Acquisitions Department. In 1989, named Vice President. In 1993, transferred to the Principal Investment Area (PIA).
• From 1979 to 1983, was with Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago, rising to Second Vice President in the U.S. Banking Department.
• Member of Board of Directors of AutoNation, Inc. (NYSE: AN) and Strayer Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRA).
• MA, Business Administration (with distinction), Harvard Business School, 1985; BA (cum laude and with honors in history), Union College, 1979.

William A. Ullman  

Member of the Board of Directors of Van Eck Associates Corporation  

• From 2006 to present, focus on investing and advising companies in the financial services and FinTech sectors.
• From 2015 to 2018, Chief Commercial Officer of Orchard Platform; appointed Chief Executive Officer of Orchard Platform Markets, LLC in March 2017. Held both positions until Orchard acquired by Kabbage, Inc. in 2018.
• From 2001 to 2006, Senior Managing Director, Global Clearing Services Department, Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. Managed department's top client relationship and global capital introduction groups; strategic planning and investments.
• From 1997 to 2001, Managing Director/Senior Managing Director, Bear Stearns' Financial Institutions Group/Investment Banking Department. Managed the group's corporate finance practice for asset managers, broker-dealers and fin-tech companies.
• Began career in 1989 as Associate, Financial Institutions Group, Merrill Lynch Investment Banking Department; promoted Director, 1997; Vice President in London (1993-1996) helping to build European Financial Institutions Group practice.
• Senior Advisor for FinTech, Berkshire Global Advisors; Senior Advisor, FinTech Collective Fund II, LP; Board Member, Capital Returns Fund Ltd. (insurance sector focused hedge fund); former Chairman of the Board of the Hoff Barthelson Music School, Scarsdale, NY.
• MBA, UCLA Anderson School of Management, 1989; AB, History (cum laude), Princeton University, 1985.