Robotti & Company Advisors, LLC, an independent SEC registered investment adviser, today announced the appointment of Theo van der Meer, David Kessler, Dan Grzywacz and Mike DeRop as Associate Portfolio Managers effective as of October 1, 2026. These steps come as Robotti & Company Advisors has experienced considerable growth. Assets under management have more than doubled, from roughly $540 million at the beginning of 2020 to approximately $1.1 billion as of September 30, 2026.
Each of these individuals has been employed by Robotti & Company Advisors for more than a decade, and together they have more than 60 years of experience at the firm. Mr. van der Meer, Mr. Kessler and Mr. DeRop will serve as Associate Portfolio Managers for the Robotti Value Equity separately managed account strategy, which had approximately $475 million in assets as of September 30, 2026. Mr. van der Meer, Mr. Grzywacz and Mr. DeRop will serve in the same role for certain of the firm’s private funds, which had approximately $555 million in assets as of September 30, 2026. All four will continue to work alongside Robert Robotti, who remains Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager of these strategies.
The research team at Robotti is a cohesive group of like-minded fundamental investors who have worked together for years. As Mr. Robotti noted, “Our stock picking has been very strong, enabling each of these strategies to outperform their benchmarks since inception. Critical to our success has been our ability to attract and retain like-minded stock pickers.” Mr. Robotti further noted, “The Associate Portfolio Manager title is a lagging indicator because Theo, David, Dan and Mike have been critical members of the research team that has been shaping our portfolios for a long time.”
“Not much about how we do the work will change,” said Mr. van der Meer, reflecting on the appointments and speaking for the group. “We’ll keep reading the filings, talking to the people who run these businesses and arguing over the numbers. Bob built a firm where you’re expected to think for yourself and then defend it. Now that responsibility has our names on it.”
About Robotti & Company Advisors, LLC
Robotti & Company, Incorporated, the parent company of Robotti & Company Advisors, LLC, was formed in 1983 by Mr. Robotti. Robotti & Company Advisors, LLC is the investment adviser for separately managed accounts and private funds, applying research-intensive investment principles based upon those of Benjamin Graham to find small- and mid-cap companies trading at a discount to their intrinsic value. As of September 30, 2026, Robotti & Company Advisors managed approximately $1.1 billion in assets.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261016075030/en/
Media gallery
