Ben Gordon, CFA    |    Founder and Managing Partner

Prior to founding his own firm in 2018, Ben spent almost a decade as a Portfolio Manager with GMT Capital Corp. Ben  joined GMT in 2005 as an analyst and was promoted to Portfolio Manager in 2008.  He was responsible for the largest portfolio at GMT outside of GMT’s founder.  Ben managed over $2 billion in gross assets at peak while at GMT and as a a generalist, he invested globally across a wide variety of sectors and geographies, with a higher weighting towards TMT businesses based on GMT investment strategy and focus. Ben  also helped open GMT’s London office and managed the UK-based investment team.   He began his career with Raymond James as a research associate covering telecom services.

Ben  also worked at the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, an economic think tank and is the author of “Seeking Extraordinary Returns”, a book on investing. Ben graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ohio University and is a CFA charterholder.

Dan Levinson  |    Founding Officer and Senior Advisor

Over the past 30 years, Mr. Levinson has held senior level finance and operations positions at various financial institutions with extensive experience in accounting, portfolio management systems implementation, regulatory procedures, compliance, tax planning, and business development. Most recently,  Mr. Levinson was Partner, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Cat Rock Capital Management LP, a Global long/short equity hedge. Mr. Levinson was previously the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Atalaya Capital Management LP, currently a $3+ billion distress credit fund, where from the firm’s inception until his departure 9 years later, he built and managed the non-investment side of the business.  Prior to Atalaya, Mr. Levinson was the Chief Financial Officer at Morgens, Waterfall, Vintiadis & Co., a hedge fund and private equity manager specializing in leveraged loans, special situations and distressed debt.  Prior to that, he has also served as a Vice President at Sentinel Real Estate (formerly Smith Barney real estate group). 

Mr. Levinson began his career at KPMG Peat Marwick, earned his CPA license (not active), and has previously held Series 7, 24 and 63 securities licenses.  Mr Levinson served on Board of Directors for Banyan Strategic Realty Partners, (NASD:  BSRTS).   He has also spoken at numerous industry conferences including GAIM Cayman, IMN Alpha East, IMN Global Summit, and Institutional Investor Investment Conferences. Mr. Levinson graduated from Lehigh University with a BS degree with concentration in Accounting and Economics.

Jeffrey Wilson, CFA | Analyst

Jeff Wilson brings over 15 years of investment experience to Blue Grotto Capital.   Jeff started in the industry in 2005 as an analyst for Montag & Caldwell, where he was later promoted to Vice President/Principal & named a Portfolio Manager for the firm's mid-cap strategy.   In 2016, Jeff joined GMT Capital working as an analyst with Ben Gordon.  In 2018, Jeff was named a Portfolio Manager and also began serving as a member of the firm's Investment Committee.

Jeff attended Wake Forest University where graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Masters of Science in Accountancy.   While at Wake Forest, Jeff was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and awarded a research scholarship.   Jeff is a CFA charterholder.

Alexandra Dogariu, CFA | Analyst

Alex Dogariu brings over 13 year of investment experience as a buyside analyst to Blue Grotto Capital. Alex started in the industry in 2005 as an undergraduate intern at Fidelity Management & Research Company and then,  upon graduating, joined the domestic equities research team where she focused on TMT. In 2010, she left Fidelity to join Asian Century Quest, an Asian Focus hedge fund where she covered TMT in the US and Asia.  Subsequently, Alex spent over 6 years at a family office managing equity securities.

 Alex earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Economics from University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude.  While at Penn, she was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar and received the Simon Kuznets Fellowship Award in Economics.     Alex is a CFA charterholder.

Greg Deese, CPA   | CFO/CCO/COO

Greg Deese is the Controller of Blue Grotto Capital Mr. Deese’s financial accounting experience spans over 30 years and includes more than 25 years in alternative asset management. Previously, Mr. Deese was CFO, COO and CCO at Concourse Capital Management and was with the firm since its inception in 2008.   Previous to Concourse launch, he was the Controller at Perimeter Capital Management, LLC from 2006-2010. Before this, from 1996- 2006,  he was Controller at GMT Capital where he oversaw prime brokerage relationships, securities lending, risk management, accounting, tax and financial activities for 4 separate hedge funds with combined assets of over $2.5 billion. Mr. Deese received a B.B.A. from University of West Georgia and earned his CPA designation in 2000.