Inspired by his grandfather Ladislav Hecht, a world-champion tennis player, Nikos Hecht took an interest in the sport early in life and served as the captain of the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) tennis team from 1988 to 1992. During this time, he was the highest-ranked player on the top Ivy League team. Nikos Hecht graduated from UPenn with dual undergraduate degrees in history and economic sciences, and the following year, began working as an analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in New York. From 1996 to 2010, Nikos Hecht was the founding partner of Aspen Partners in Colorado, through which he leveraged his experience in bankruptcy investing to transform the entity into one of the largest and most successful hedge funds in the world. Nikos Hecht now dedicates his time to supporting civic organizations in his hometown of Aspen, including the Aspen Art Museum and Aspen Country Day School. He is interested in history, particularly World War II and the Holocaust, as it relates to his family’s background. As for hobbies, Hecht enjoys collecting fine watches such as those made by Patek Philippe, as well as stamps, art, and wine.