Prior to joining NWQ in 2003, Darren spent five years at Putnam Investments in the Equity Research Group. He first served as an Investment Associate covering health care and waste management stocks, and later as an Analyst covering the pulp and paper stocks. Most recently, Darren served as Putnam's Energy Analyst. Prior to this, he was in the corporate finance division of RBC Dominion Securities in Toronto for six months.

Darren graduated from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Economics, and received his M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.