Lives of Consequence
Sandy Scherzer Gross '85, P '18
Founder and Managing Partner of Pinetum Partners
Sandy Gross is the founder and managing partner of Pinetum Partners, a retained executive search firm specializing in senior level search for hedge funds, investment banks and securities firms. Gross is responsible for placing senior level investment professionals and executives by partnering with her clients and working closely with them on their strategic planning and succession initiatives.
In 1997, Gross began her recruiting career with Spencer Stuart, a leading global executive search firm. As a director in its Global Financial Services Practice, she spent six years focusing on asset management banking and e-finance. She continued to move up as the head of human resources and recruiting at Amaranth Group, a multi-billion dollar, multi-strategy hedge fund.
Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Gross was a vice president and senior client manager for Bankers Trust Company's mutual fund clients. Earlier in her career, she was the director of sales and marketing for the FINS Group, an operations consulting firm dedicated to financial institutions which is now part of IBM.
Gross is a founding co-chair of the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Human Capital Peer Advisory Group and has made guest appearances on CNBC Power Lunch, Bloomberg TV, NPR, CBS News Radio, PBS and Fox 5 Business News. She's also regularly quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, Bloomberg, CNN, efinancialcareers.com and Market Watch.
At William Smith, Gross earned a B.A. in psychology and religious studies, was a career counseling intern and assistant and chair of Hai Timiai, the senior honor society. She was also a resident advisor, member of the swim team, the social affairs club, head of the student court, and was active with the William Smith Dean's Committee, softball intramurals, and the United Way. She is the recipient of the Young Alumna Award and a William Smith Congress Award. Gross went on to earn an MBA from Pepperdine University.
In 2010, the National Association of Professional and Executive Women presented her with the "Woman of the Year" award in recognition of her outstanding achievements, leadership and service to her profession. She is an exclusive member in the 2009-2010 Registry for "Women Of Excellence."
Gross frequently returns to campus to share her expertise as a Salisbury Center for Career Services Professional in Residence. She served for a number of years on the William Smith Alumnae Council.