William Thorndike

Managing General Partner at Housatonic Partners

Will Thorndike is a prominent figure in the private equity and investment industry with extensive experience spanning several decades. Here's an overview of his career and accomplishments:

Professional Experience

Will Thorndike has held several key positions throughout his career:

Managing Partner at The Cromwell Harbor Partnership (2023 - Present): He currently leads this private investment company with various long-term holdings.1 2
Co-Founding Partner at Compounding Labs (2020 - Present).1
Partner and Chairman at TTCER Partners (2007 - Present).1
Managing General Partner at Housatonic Partners (1994 - 2023): Thorndike founded this private equity firm and led it for nearly three decades.1 5 Housatonic Partners is known for its exceptionally long holding periods and has offices in Boston and San Francisco.2

Board Positions and Advisory Roles

Thorndike serves on several boards and advisory positions:

Chairman of CNX Resources: He joined the board in 2014 and became Chairman in 2016.4
Co-Chairman of Perimeter Solutions.2 4
Director of various private companies, including Carillon Assisted Living, Banyan Software, and QMC International.2 4
Advisor to Evergreen Services Group.2
Trustee for organizations such as The Cromwell Harbor Foundation, WGBH, College of the Atlantic, and the Land and Garden Preserve.2

Authorship and Influence

Thorndike is the author of "The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success," a book that has gained significant recognition:

It has been translated into thirteen languages.3
Warren Buffett praised it as "an outstanding book about CEOs who excelled at capital allocation".3
The book has influenced business strategies, including inspiring the founding of Evergreen Services Group.2

Education and Background

Graduate of Harvard College and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.2 3
Prior to founding Housatonic Partners, he worked with T. Rowe Price Associates and Walker & Company.3

Notable Achievements

Pioneered institutional investment in search funds and played a crucial role in refining their acquisition criteria over 25 years.2
Has served as a director for over 30 companies since founding Housatonic Partners.4
In 2019, he purchased the Boston-based publisher David R. Godine.3

Will Thorndike's career demonstrates a strong focus on long-term investments, strategic capital allocation, and unconventional business leadership approaches.