Jim O'Brien

Jim O’Brien is the CEO of Aaron Equipment Company, an 80+year old business that buys, sells and auctions used manufacturing equipment. Prior to joining Aaron in 2019, he worked in senior roles for a variety of asset management organizations, including JMB, Heitman, Kennedy Wilson, and Henderson Global Investors. At Henderson, Mr. O’Brien was responsible for its US business and saw the company grow from $750 million to $20 billion in assets under management. He was a member of Henderson’s executive committee, regularly traveling to Henderson’s London headquarters and participating in developing the strategy for the parent company. Mr. O’Brien served as a Trustee of the Henderson Global Funds Board, as President of the Henderson Global Funds and was a board member of THRE, a $20 billion joint venture between TIAA-CREF and Henderson.

He was a board member of Olson Urban Housing, LLC from 2009-2014 and re-joined the board in 2020.  Mr. O’Brien is the author of three books: “Now You Will Excuse Me,” a series of essays on leadership, “Chasing Twilight” a running journal co-authored with professional ultra marathoner Adam Kimble and Connor Crouch and 102 Aspects of the Run, a book of photos and essays on running.