VanEck Turns 70: Staying Ahead in a World That Never Stands Still

Conviction Over Convention: The Founding DNA of VanEck

In the fall of 2007, Kristen Capuano walked into VanEck’s office in Midtown Manhattan for a four-hour interview that would ultimately shape the course of her life. The marketing team at the time was a lean group of five or six people, all laser-focused on something called “ETFs”—a concept still foreign to most. Kristen didn’t know much about ETFs at the time, but she knew enough about mutual funds, marketing and basic economics to take a chance. Two weeks later, she joined the firm.

That spirit of stepping into the unknown, and choosing conviction over convention, wasn’t unusual at VanEck. In fact, it echoed a philosophy that stretches back to the firm’s founding in 1955. Born from John C. van Eck’s vision to give U.S. investors access to international markets in the aftermath of WWII, the firm’s early moves were bold. Launching the first U.S. mutual fund focused on gold equities in the 1960s was nearly unthinkable, but it was prescient. Gold would soar in the subsequent decade, and so, too, would VanEck’s reputation for foresight.

As we as a firm mark our 70th anniversary, we do so with a clear-eyed view of the future: one where innovation, integrity and independence remain the cornerstones of how we do business.

Innovation with Intention: Investing in What Matters

VanEck’s enduring investment philosophy is to identify transformative themes before they go mainstream and give investors access to opportunities that can reshape markets and portfolios.

This mindset came into sharp focus in 1968. Most saw gold as a stable commodity, while VanEck saw signs of inflation, upheaval and a coming inflection point. At a time when gold was pegged to the dollar at $35/oz, VanEck launched the first U.S. fund dedicated to gold equities. A few years later, the U.S. abandoned the gold standard, sending gold up to over $800/oz in the 1970s. Today, gold is over $3,000/oz. This move exemplified the firm’s focus on identifying impactful trends early and acting with conviction to give investors meaningful access to compelling opportunities. “My father believed that investors deserved more than what the mainstream was offering,” says Jan van Eck, who joined the firm in 1991 and became CEO in 2010. “He built this firm on the idea that the world is constantly changing, and that by understanding those shifts early, you could create real opportunity for clients. That belief still guides us today.”

That long-term lens has carried the firm through decades of monetary shifts, inflation cycles, geopolitical disruption, and, most recently, a digital revolution in finance. In 2017, VanEck became the first established ETF issuer to file for a bitcoin-linked ETF, once again showing that VanEck moves early and with purpose.

To paraphrase Wayne Gretzky, the firm goes to where the puck is going and not where it is, noted Eric Fine, Portfolio Manager. “That is impossible to teach, but whether it’s gold in the 70s, ETFs in the 90s, crypto today, bonds—that is very much a trait that exists at VanEck,” says Eric.

Shawn Reynolds, Portfolio Manager, likes to describe the firm’s posture as “conservatively innovative”: a willingness to explore the cutting edge, paired with the discipline to ensure it delivers long-term value. “I think that culture permeates this institution and is fairly unique,” adds Shawn.

Built by People, Sustained by Culture

“There’s no way this company would be here without the contributions of the team and the individuals,” says Jan. “It really takes a team.”

Kristen, now co-COO and CMO, reflects on the firm’s journey with the warmth of someone who grew up there. “My adult life was shaped at VanEck,” she says. “I met my husband here. I learned to be patient and to listen. I learned that you get more out of people not just when there’s a shared mission, but when people care about each other, too.”

That sentiment isn’t hers alone. Adam Phillips, who has been with the firm for nearly two decades and is currently COO of the ETF business, recalls the 90-minute lunch with the firm’s founder on his first day with VanEck. “He was fully engaged, asked all about me and my family. We talked about history in the markets and where VanEck could go,” Adam says. “I still think about that today. I might have been one of the last people to experience that.”

For Greg Krenzer, who joined in 1994, when VanEck had fewer than 50 employees, that atmosphere was just as vivid. As Jan and his brother, Derek, were stepping into leadership roles, their father remained a visible, and formative, presence. Greg recalls Mr. van Eck being in the office every day, literally plotting gold prices by hand on graph paper. “A very collegial atmosphere has always been a trait here at VanEck, and Mr. van Eck was instrumental in that influence,” he adds.

“I joined VanEck in 2008 as employee number 99,” recalls Laura Martinez, now VP, Associate General Counsel. In her first interview, instead of discussing legal precedent, she and the firm’s former General Counsel talked about movies and hobbies. “It was the most un-law-like interview ever—and it set the tone. VanEck has always felt more like family than firm.”

Kristen remembers impromptu wine tastings that led to finding and washing 80 glasses before an advisor meeting, a last-minute photo shoot in Central Park for Barron’s and a surreal trip to the Great Wall of China as part of a new business initiative. And now? “We host global sales and marketing meetings with nearly 200 people,” she says. “But that same spirit—that sense of family—remains.”

Culture, after all, is core. “People really care, and you can see it and feel it every day,” says Adam. “If you walk around the halls, you’ll hear ‘we’ way more than you hear ‘I.’ That makes a difference.”

Patty Ye joined VanEck in 1989 and played a pivotal role in its Asia expansion. She started as a Corporate Accountant and ultimately went on to open the firm’s Shanghai office in 2011, an experience that deepened her sense of VanEck as her “professional home”.

“What sets this firm apart, in my view, is its unwavering commitment to innovation—always looking ahead, seeking opportunities for our clients, and embracing bold steps into new territory,” Patty says. “One of the unique privileges and honor of my time at VanEck has been working for two generations of the van Eck family, experiencing firsthand the continuity of vision and values that make this firm so special.”

For Arian Neiron, CEO & Managing Director of VanEck Asia Pacific, that culture is anchored in independence. “Remaining family-owned and independent gives us the unique advantage of agility and authenticity,” he says. “We’re not bound by short-termism. We can think generationally. And that is exactly how we plan to operate: with the courage to lead, the humility to listen and the clarity to invest in what truly matters.”

That culture isn’t just inherited. It’s chosen. For Angus Shillington, who joined as Deputy Portfolio Manager after the global financial crisis, VanEck was a deliberate pivot away from investment banking. “I wanted something smaller, more collegial, with more room to think, collaborate and build,” he says. “And I found that here.”

His choice has paid off, not just professionally, but also philosophically. “Jan’s grit and determination—not only to move the firm forward, but to do it in a way that stayed true to principle—speaks volumes about VanEck’s DNA. The firm has navigated many market crises, and it’s never been about just surviving for survival’s sake. It’s always conviction-led and kinetic, and as the market changes and evolves, we get stronger,” he says.

Leading with Purpose: The Next Era

Under Jan’s leadership since 2010, the firm has evolved into a global asset manager, offering ETFs, mutual funds, institutional strategies, model portfolios, UCITS funds, and more. The firm manages $132.9 billion as of June 30, 2025. Beneath this growth, the firm’s mission hasn’t changed: to deliver forward-thinking investment ideas that help investors navigate change by staying one step ahead of it.

“I think the spirit of the firm was always to try different investment ideas—try to identify trends, not chase fads,” says Jan. That guiding philosophy has shaped the growth and evolution of the firm, and that willingness to lead with a clear purpose continues to this day. “The world changes. Technology changes. And there will be changes in the financial services industry. VanEck has to pivot when necessary, but always with curiosity and discipline,” adds Jan.

"Celebrating our 70th anniversary is not just about honoring our history and longevity, but also about the people who have carried our philosophy forward and continue to do so today,” says Jan. “From our early days of hand drawing gold charts to the rise of digital assets, our team has always brought thoughtfulness and a willingness to adapt. That’s what will carry us into the future.”