Former Goldman Co-President Joins Thrive Capital as Adviser

With a number of high-profile investments under its belt, Thrive Capital is turning to a former top Goldman Sachs executive to help advise on its growth plans.

Last month, Thrive hired Jon Winkelried, a former Goldman co-president, as a strategic adviser to provide guidance as the three-year-old venture capital firm continues to expand.

Mr. Winkelried is the most prominent addition yet by the firm, which has raised $200 million since its inception. And it is perhaps the biggest perch yet for Mr. Winkelried since retiring from the bank in 2009.

“Jon has been tremendously successful in his career because of his judgment and integrity,” Joshua Kushner, Thrive’s founder, said in a telephone interview. “We feel incredibly grateful to have him intimately involved in Thrive as we build out the firm over the next few years.”

Thrive made its name with early investments in hot Internet start-ups like Instagram, Spotify and the trendy eyewear maker Warby Parker. Now it has broadened its focus within the technology world, looking at potential opportunities ranging from health care to financial servies to education.

Mr. Kushner, the son of the real estate magnate Charles Kushner and brother of newspaper publisher Jared Kushner, first met Mr. Winkelried through mutual friends about a year ago. Soon afterward, the onetime investment banker began providing informal advice to the young investor on how to expand his burgeoning firm.

Over the last few months, Mr. Winkelried’s role became more official as he began coming into Thrive’s offices weekly, dispensing advice on both the firm’s growth and its broader strategy.

He is the most prominent adviser yet for Thrive, which has already hired the likes of Jared Weinstein, a former White House official under George W. Bush.

Since retiring after a 26-year career as one of Goldman’s top bankers and one of the best-paid executives on Wall Street, Mr. Winkelried has kept a fairly low profile. He is also advising a credit fund at TPG Capital run by Alan Waxman, a former colleague at Goldman. He also manages JW Capital Partners, his family office, and his own personal ranching operations.

“The team at Thrive Capital has built something very impressive in a short period of time and they really understand how technology is impacting every single industry,” Mr. Winkelried said in a statement. “I am excited to work with them as they continue to grow Thrive.”