Business & Theology Day 2024

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William Cahoy, Ph.D.
David Cahoy

Investment Banking, Activist Investors, and the Common Good: A Dialogue on Business and Theology

The world of investment banking, market forces, profit, and efficiency, especially under the pressure of activist investors, can seem far removed from the teachings of Jesus. Some maintain that this is as it should be: that faith and even moral principles are for one’s personal or private life and do not belong in the world of business. Yet Scripture and the Gospels, in particular, have much to say about our economic relations. Drawing on Scripture and tradition, the Catholic Church has explicitly engaged the socio-economic world in what is known as Catholic Social Teaching, focusing on human dignity and the common good.

What might the experience of advising corporations on key decisions such as mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and defense against activist investors teach people of faith seeking to live and work with integrity in the business world? In a dialogue between a Theologian and a New York Investment Banker (who happen to be Father and Son), we will explore the connections between Christian teaching and the world of business, finance, markets, and corporations.

About

Dr. Cahoy completed his master’s and doctoral work at Yale University. He is a retired professor (1990-2021) and Dean Emeritus of Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary (1999-2015). Now retired from teaching in the classroom, Cahoy spends much of his time with family. However, he has a deep love for theology and teaching and can’t help but continue sharing his expertise with the School of Theology and Seminary’s Theology Day participants as well as consulting on theological education with InTrust.

David Cahoy is a Managing Director at Evercore, an investment bank, where he advises public companies on activism and hostile raid defense as well as mergers and acquisitions and broader corporate strategy. His experience includes advising Whole Foods on its defense against activist JANA partners and subsequent $13bn sale to Amazon and advising Qualcomm on its defense against Broadcom’s $100bn hostile takeover bid, among nearly 100 transactions and defenses during his 13-year investment banking career. Prior to joining Evercore in 2016, David was a Vice President in Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan. David earned a BA in Economics from Northwestern University, an MBA with honors from the Darden School of Business (UVA) and is a CFA Charterholder.

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Business & Theology is a chance for people in business communities to learn about their daily faith and have a deeper understanding of its place in their business vocation.

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