Karen Karniol-Tambour has been named inaugural chief executive officer of the Canada Strong Fund. She returns to Canada to steer its first national sovereign wealth fund after a 20-year sojourn in progressively more senior roles with the global macro investment firm, Bridgewater Associates.

The sovereign fund has been launched with a $25 billion capital commitment, and a mandate to co-invest in projects and companies that have received federal support and make strategic investments in other high-potential Canadian projects and companies. The professionally managed fund will operate at arm’s length from government, under Karniol-Tambour’s leadership and with its own board of directors.

“The Canada Strong Fund will put Canadian capital to work in the projects and companies building our country’s future. Ms. Karniol-Tambour brings the experience and ambition to lead this mission — making investments that strengthen our economy and build lasting wealth for Canadians,” says Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Most recently, Karniol-Tambour served as Bridgewater’s co-chief investment officer and was a member of its executive committee. She is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and an angel investor in technology startups led by women. Barron’s has named her one of the 100 most influential women in U.S. finance for the past seven consecutive years.