Prior to joining NWQ in 2002, Kirk held the position of Senior Equity Trader with CapitalWorks Investment Partners where he was in charge of implementing trading strategy for the firm's traditional hedge product, as well as a small-cap and mid-cap growth product. Previous to this, he spent 3 years at Brandes Investment Partners as the Institutional Trading Manager where he was responsible for the firm's global execution facility with additional oversight of the retail private client, wrap-fee and foreign exchange trading desks. Before joining Brandes, he was a trader of both domestic and international equities with Nicholas|Applegate Capital Management. Prior to that, he was an investment analyst for Triad Financial Group, a commercial real estate investment firm, and also previously was an associate research analyst with Lehman Brothers.

Kirk graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Finance.