Strathspey Crown Holdings Chairman Robert Grant brought a linguistic edge to the Newport Beach-based investment firm’s deal for Evolus Inc. late last week (see related Addendum item, page 18). Evolus was fresh off wrapping up a partnership with South Korea-based drug manufacturer Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co. to run clinical tests and manage regulatory approvals. Grant has extensive experience as an expat exec and speaks Korean as one of the four languages he knows besides English. The knowledge of Korean was likely useful in understanding the tie-up with Daewoong—but it didn’t result from his corporate career. Grant picked up the language during a stint as a missionary before starting up the corporate ladder. …
Quite a crowd for Sage Hill School’s Science Lecture Series last week, when UCI Professor Dr. James Weatherall, author of New York Times best seller “The Physics of Wall Street,” shared the stage with Pimco Managing Director and particle physicist Dr. Vineer Bhansali. The pair handled questions from Dr. Ed Thorp, the “King of the Quants,” with a focus on “theoretical and practical applications of science in world finance, stock markets and investor behavior and strategies.” The lively discussion drew a full house of more than 250 to the school’s Black Box Theater, including at least two members of the Business Journal’s annual OC’s Wealthiest List: Thorp and Sheldon Razin, founder and chairman of Quality Systems …
Bet against the Boston Red Sox this year if you like—the Insider likes Detroit to take it all, as a matter of fact. Just don’t bet against Razin when it comes to Red Sox trivia. He’s wicked good, especially on Ted Williams …
Thorp picked up a fashion credit with a cover shot for a September issue of Engadget’s Distro, which put him about 50 years ahead of the now-hot trend of “wearable tech.” …
Tip for Airport Area office folk: Eat an energy bar at your desk and then spend $5 and your lunch break at the gorgeous California Impressionism exhibit at the Irvine Museum at Von Karman and Martin. Plenty of OC examples, including the Insider’s favorite by Anna Hills, a 1914 work titled By the Roadside Near El Toro …
Also Near El Toro: The Insider hears that Emile Haddad continued his sartorial supplement to the marketing plan for FivePoint Communities Pavilion Park residential development on the old Marine base, greeting would-be buyers on opening weekend in a bright orange sport shirt …
Shutdown update: Chris Cox wasted no time getting out word last week that SEC Commissioner Dan Gallagher wouldn’t make a scheduled visit to the Forum for Corporate Directors event at the Pacific Club due to the government shutdown. Gallagher offered some hope for the longer term, however, agreeing to reschedule his visit for December …
UCI also got caught short by Washington when Energy Department Secretary Ernest Moniz cancelled a visit (see related story on effects of shutdown, page 1).
