Leadership Team

Ashwin Puri serves as President and Chief Investment Officer of First Midwest Group and the Puri Foundation. Across First Midwest Group’s portfolio of businesses and investments, he leads investment strategy, due diligence, capital allocation, and portfolio management. As a member of the company’s Executive Committee, he also helps guide overall strategy, operations, and long-term growth.

At the Puri Foundation, Ashwin helps guide philanthropic strategy and the stewardship of resources across its three pillars: Poverty Alleviation; Women, Children and Families; and Economic Mobility and Development. His leadership reflects a commitment to carrying forward the legacy of his late father, Sunil Puri, through thoughtful investment, service, and lasting contributions to the communities the Foundation serves.

Ashwin grew up closely connected to First Midwest Group and has worked across the organization in full-time and part-time roles since 2017. His experience includes positions within portfolio companies and service as Principal and Director of Investments.

His investment experience also includes serving as a Principal at XRC Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm focused on next-generation commerce, healthcare, and consumer technology, and as an Associate at ID Ventures, where he focused on early-stage B2B software and life sciences investments. He remains an active angel investor, with a particular interest in emerging markets in Africa and Asia, and has led accelerator programs supporting entrepreneurs in New York and Michigan.

Ashwin earned his degree from Georgetown University, where he co-founded the university’s first startup accelerator. His early experience included internships at the White House during the Obama administration, the U.S. Senate, and the political section of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Outside of work, Ashwin enjoys international travel, exploring new restaurants, learning guitar, and planning mountaineering expeditions.