Early Life
Alfred P. West Jr., a native of Florida, initially dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot but pursued an MBA at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania after poor eyesight ended his aviation aspirations. West also holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Rise to Success
West founded Simulated Environments Inc. (SEI) in 1968 while at Wharton. The company's initial focus was developing computer-based simulation software to train bank personnel. This led to an automated investment accounting system for bank trust departments, marking its entry into financial services. West took SEI public in 1981 and expanded into investment advisory and money management. He served as CEO for 54 years, retiring in 2022 and becoming Executive Chairman. Under his leadership, SEI grew into a global financial services firm with a significant presence in asset management and investment processing.
Key Business Strategies
West's strategies focused on leveraging technology to transform the financial sector. He emphasized a long-term approach, innovation, and a team-oriented culture. The company developed and launched the SEI Wealth Platform to provide wealth management solutions. Key to his success was recognizing the importance of recurring revenue and building a company that could adapt to changing market needs.
Philanthropy
West has been involved with philanthropic endeavors including WestBridge, a private non-profit organization that supports the recovery of those with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders.
