Harvard endowment’s chief of alternative investments to retire

The Harvard University endowment’s head of alternative assets, Andrew Wiltshire, will retire later this year, the group announced Friday.

Wiltshire, 58, joined Harvard Management Co. in 2001 and developed the natural resources portfolio for the nation’s wealthiest university.

“Andy was a pioneer in developing HMC’s timberland strategy and innovative natural resources portfolio,’’ said Stephen Blyth, chief executive of the $36.4 billion endowment, in a statement. He also credited Wiltshire with helping “lead the organization through the financial crisis and its aftermath.”

Before taking on the role as head of alternative assets, Wiltshire served as managing director of natural resources and director of timberland investments for the endowment. Over the ten years that ended in June 2014, natural resources delivered an annualized return of 11.6%, Harvard said.

Wiltshire, a New Zealand native, said in a statement, “I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve Harvard University.”

It was unclear who would replace Wiltshire.