David Thomas

David Thomas is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Atalan Capital Partners, LP, a New York-based hedge fund he founded in 2014. He leads the firm’s investment strategy and oversees its portfolio management, focusing on global equities, equity-related securities, and debt securities. Under his leadership, Atalan Capital Partners has grown to manage over $2 billion in assets, with a disciplined approach to risk management and a strong emphasis on long-term capital preservation and alpha generation.

Mr. Thomas specializes in long/short equity strategies, with broad experience across sectors including consumer services, financials, and industrials. His investment approach integrates fundamental analysis with a focus on identifying mispriced securities and managing downside risk, leveraging expertise in both public and private markets. He is known for building resilient investment partnerships and fostering a collaborative, repeatable investment process.

Prior to founding Atalan, David Thomas held senior roles at Highside Capital Management, where he was Partner and Managing Director, and at Soroban Capital Partners, where he served as Financial Analyst. He began his career in private equity and investment banking with The Beacon Group, J.P. Morgan Partners, and J.P. Morgan Securities. Mr. Thomas holds an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar, and a BA summa cum laude from Duke University, where he double-majored in Economics and International Studies. His career is marked by a consistent track record of delivering strong risk-adjusted returns and contributing to the evolution of hedge fund best practices.