Fortress Co-CEO’s Unexpected Death Rattles $53 Billion Debt Firm

Well before they became co-chief executive officers, Drew McKnight and Josh Pack were known for their close partnership within Fortress Investment Group.

The pair had worked together for two decades, and Pack had followed McKnight in moving his family to Dallas from California during the pandemic. They established Texas as a new power center for the Manhattan firm, and then in 2023, were instrumental in a Mubadala Investment Co.-backed buyout of the company that led to their ascent to the top job.

But last week, McKnight was suddenly on his own. He faced the firm’s staff on a ...