History
Roots in the Turtle Trading Experiment
Chesapeake Capital’s history begins five years before the firm existed, when Jerry Parker was recruited in 1983 by commodities trader Richard Dennis. As one of Dennis’s original “Turtle” traders, Parker learned a data-driven discipline built on four core rules: diversify broadly, cut losses quickly, let profits run, and stick to the system.
Founding of Chesapeake Capital Corporation
Parker launched Chesapeake Capital Corporation in Richmond, Virginia in February 1988. The firm’s single mission was, and still is, to deliver trend following to investors through a fully systematic process.
What Sets Chesapeake Capital Apart
Unbroken Trend-Following DNA
Staying Measured in Every Market
The firm has never wavered from the original trend following methodology: risk-managed, rules-based, and long-term in horizon.
One Strategy. Fully Committed.
Broadest Possible Opportunity Set
Chesapeake Capital is among the few CTAs that apply the trend model to individual equities alongside traditional futures and FX markets.
A Strategy with History and a Future
Data-Driven Innovation
By pairing decades-tested rules with modern technology, Chesapeake positions itself as a “disruptor of the ordinary” relationship between asset managers and advisers.
Designed
Not Optimized
Global Reach, Singular Focus
From family offices to large institutions, investors tap Chesapeake Capital for one clear objective: systematic participation in sustained market trends.
Looking Ahead
More than three decades after its founding, Chesapeake Capital continues to follow the same compass set by Richard Dennis: prove every decision through data, respect risk, and let the trends speak for themselves. The journey that began with a classroom of Turtle traders now powers a globally diversified program designed for the next generation of systematic investors.
Today, Chesapeake Capital may be considered one of the most diversified, systematic trend followers, serving both private and institutional investors worldwide.