
Our Management Team
Extensive Experience and Collaboration
Stephen and John have worked together for 20 years, first at State Street Global Advisors and then at Pelagos Capital where they founded the firm in 2005. They sold a minority stake to Franklin Templeton in 2010 and in 2013, Franklin Templeton exercised their option to buy the remaining stake. Stephen and John acquired Pelagos Capital from Franklin Templeton in 2019.

Stephen P. Burke
Co-Founder
Chief Executive Officer
Stephen was recently Managing Director of Franklin Templeton, Executive Vice President of Franklin Alternative Strategies Advisers, LLC, and Member of the Franklin Alternatives Executive Committee. He has over thirty years of investment experience across multiple asset classes. During the last fourteen years, Stephen has overseen the management of alternative strategies, including commodities, managed futures, and global macro. Prior to co-founding Pelagos, Mr. Burke worked at State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) for ten years during which time he was the Senior Global Strategist, Head of Global Strategic Asset Allocation, and Head of Taxable Fixed Income.
Mr. Burke earned a B.S. from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

John C. Pickart, CFA
Co-Founder
Chief Investment Officer
John was recently Managing Director of Franklin Templeton and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Franklin Alternative Strategies Advisers, LLC. He has over thirty years of investment experience across multiple asset classes. During the last fourteen years, he has managed alternative strategies, including commodities, managed futures, and global macro. Prior to co-founding Pelagos, Mr. Pickart worked at State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) for six years during which time he managed small and mid-cap equity portfolios.
Mr. Pickart earned a M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a B.S. from the University of Tampa. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder.