James Harpel
International Council Member, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Experience
James W. Harpel invests in and helps build small and medium sized companies on a private equity basis. Mr. Harpel is also a founder and General Partner of First Reserve Corporation, which acts as the General Partner of a series of private equity funds primarily in the energy and power industries totaling in excess of $18 billion. Progressive Employer Services, Insurance Technologies, Inc., Maverick Tube Inc., Inter-Mountain Gas, Security First Corp. and Congoleum Corp are among the leveraged buy-outs and private equity investments in which Mr. Harpel has been actively involved. In addition, Mr. Harpel is both a founder and the Chairman of Beanstalk Networks, a managed developer of mortgage software.
For many years, Mr. Harpel was the managing partner of Harpel Advisory Company Inc., a registered investment adviser and hedge fund manager, and the managing partner of Century Capital Corporation, a $2 billion registered investment adviser.
Early in his career, Mr. Harpel worked for investment banking firms and played an integral operating role in the turn around of an NYSE-listed manufacturing company.
Mr. Harpel attended Harvard College and graduated with high distinction from Harvard Business School. He is currently a member of the Visiting Committee of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, as well as a member of the International Council at the Belfer Center. He is a Member of the Visiting Committee and Chairman of the Dean's International Council, at the Harris School. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
