Gavin G. O’Connor ’88, P’24
Alumni Professional Achievement Award
Gavin G. O’Connor ’88, P’24, is the chief operating officer and chief financial officer at Point72 L.P., a leading alternative investment firm with a global presence. In this role, O’Connor oversees trade research, strategy, market intelligence, and other key functions that support the firm’s long-term success.
O’Connor’s interest in finance and accounting took shape early. During his senior year at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, NJ, a course called “College-Level Accounting” revealed both a talent for the discipline and a clear sense of direction—one that would shape his professional path.
He earned bachelor’s degrees in accounting and finance from Fairfield University’s School of Business before beginning his career at PwC. O’Connor later earned an MBA in finance from New York University and went on to hold positions at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and UBS before joining Goldman Sachs in 1996.
At Goldman Sachs, O’Connor began as an associate in the finance division and quickly captured the attention of leadership. In 1999, his third year at the firm, he played a key role in assisting with the firm’s much-awaited initial public offering—the second largest IPO in history at the time and a defining moment for both the industry and his career.
Over the next 21 years, O’Connor advanced through a series of leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, including vice president, managing director, and partner, ultimately spending his final decade in the investment management division. In 2017, he retired from the firm and stepped away from professional life to care for his parents. Though marked by loss, O’Connor describes this period as a true blessing—time that allowed him to be fully present with his parents in their final years. He credits them with instilling in him a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to the Jesuit ideal of being a person for others.
Today, despite a full professional calendar, O’Connor remains deeply engaged with Fairfield University. Since 2010, he has served on the Charles F. Dolan School of Business Advisory Board and the Fairfield Awards Dinner Committee, including a term as co-chair in 2013. He also served on Fairfield’s Board of Trustees for more than a decade.
Through mentorship, interview preparation, and ongoing advisory support, O’Connor continues to give back to Fairfield Dolan students and alumni. He takes pride in Fairfield’s ability to pair professional success with ethical leadership, noting that “while Fairfield continues to produce incredibly successful alumni, there’s an equal emphasis on ensuring people go on with the highest level of ethics—making them valuable leaders for the workforce and the world.”
O’Connor lives in Saddle River, NJ, with his wife, Marybeth (Calianese) O’Connor ’88, P’24. They have four children: Katharine ’24, Ryan, Danielle, and Jack. Fairfield is a true family tradition, with many relatives who are alumni or current students, including his sister Jennifer (O’Connor) Piepszak ’92.