Martin H. Nesbitt is a co-founder, co-chairman and co-chief executive officer of The Vistria Group, a Chicago-based investment firm. His earlier career included real estate investment and running an airport parking business. He has also served on public company boards and held leadership positions in Chicago civic organizations. As chairman of the Obama Foundation's board, he works in nonprofit governance alongside his investment responsibilities.
Nesbitt earned a bachelor's degree at Albion College and an MBA at the University of Chicago. Albion also awarded him an honorary doctorate. Before establishing his own operating business, he worked at LaSalle Partners as an investment manager and vice president of its equity group. He then became an officer of Pritzker Realty Group.
Nesbitt co-founded The Parking Spot, an owner and operator of parking facilities serving airports, and led the business as chief executive. He developed the concept and was responsible for its strategy and operations. He later moved into leadership of Vistria, whose investment interests included healthcare, education and financial services.
He co-founded Vistria in 2013. His corporate board work includes American Airlines, which he joined in November 2015, and Chewy. He joined the Phoenix Education Partners board in 2025. Earlier directorships included Jones Lang LaSalle from 2011 to 2021, Norfolk Southern from 2013 to 2018 and CenterPoint Energy from 2018 to 2024.
Nesbitt served as national treasurer for Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. He later became chairman of the Obama Foundation's board. In Chicago, his civic work has included chairing the Chicago Housing Authority's board and serving on the committee for the city's bid to host the 2016 Olympics. He is also a trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
