Artradis Fund Management has confirmed the appointment of James Sweeney as a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. Sweeney has been involved with global capital markets for over 17 years and joins from Credit Suisse, where he was a Managing Director running the Fund Linked Products group in New York. He began his career as a lawyer at Simpson Thacher and Bartlett in New York and has held a variety of positions at Société Général, Bank of America, UBS and Lehman Brothers in New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong. “With his strong background in managing large and operationally intensive businesses, Jim is an important addition to our team. He will lead the continued build-out of our operational and trading units that will complement and enhance the existing platform at Artradis.” said Richard Magides, Managing Partner.
Jean-Eric Mercier has joined CPR Asset Management, becoming a member of the executive committee of CAAM Group. Since August 2003, Mercier has been Chairman and Chief Executive of Fidelity Investissements SAS and Fidelity Gestion in Paris where he was principally responsible for launching new products in the fields of group pension schemes and life insurance. From 2001 to 2003 Mercier was Senior Vice-President of Mercer Olivier Wyman, after serving a five-year stint as vice-president of A.T. Kearney (Paris). From 1992 to 1996, he was in charge of consultancy for investment banking and asset management at Bossard Consultants, where he began his career in 1986. Between 1987 and 1992, Mercier was head of the futures and options department at the brokerage arm of Européenne d’Intermédiation Financière et Boursière. In 1987, he was a consultant in management and information systems with Deloitte & Touche.
Tokio Marine Asset Management has announced a further senior appointment in Anji Stewart as Vice President, Business Development. In this newly-created role, Stewart will report to Polly Smith, Senior Vice President, Business Development, and will have primary responsibility for investor relations as well as strategic marketing and branding in EMEA. Stewart’s previous post was as Investor Relations Manager at LNG Capital, the independent alternative asset management firm, where she was instrumental in establishing and managing all aspects of marketing for the firm. Prior to this, she worked as a Client Relationship Associate at RAB Capital Plc., the AIM-listed multi-strategy investment management company, where she assisted in marketing the hedged investment funds to UK-based retail investors, and managed communications to external parties.
Maurice Daines has joined CCL to head up its Hedge Fund Regulatory Supervision Team. Daines has 40 years of experience in financial services and joined CCL after four years in a small compliance consultancy and prior to that, 10 years with the Financial Services Authority and IMRO. Before moving into regulation, he was an investment manager for over 25 years. His employers included City Group and Nomura. At the Financial Services Authority, Daines managed large teams in the FSA’s Investment Firms Supervision Department, having been at the former regulator, IMRO, since 1994 and was initially an associate in the Investment Management Supervision Team. In 1998 he progressed to managing the Unit Trust and Investment Team responsible for the supervision of major UK firms. In 2000 he took over the management of ‘Team America’, the unit specialising in the supervision of major US institutions, including investment banks, global custodians, asset managers and hedge funds.
The Board of Directors of Harcourt Investment Consulting has appointed Stephan Fritz as new CEO of Harcourt. Fritz has been a member of the Executive Board since 2006 and was most recently responsible for the Research department at Harcourt. He has a broad and international investment expertise as well as extensive experience in the hedge fund industry. The present CEO Peter Fanconi has been appointed as Head Private Banking of the Vontobel Group and becomes member of the Group Executive Board. Fanconi will remain a member of the Board of Directors of Harcourt. Harcourt will continue to act independently as a boutique for alternative investment solutions.
“Stephan Fritz, as former Head of Research, brings along extensive and detailed knowledge of the hedge fund industry. Together with the management team he will further optimise Harcourt’s independent investment approach within alternative investments and will continue to implement Vontobel’s ‘Multi-Boutique Strategy’”, stated Herbert J. Scheidt, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Harcourt. His scope of responsibilities ranged from derivatives trading, structured products to all hedge fund related investments at NIB Capital Bank. During this time he acted as Advisor to the Board of Directors of Harcourt.
Millgate Capital has promoted Simon Thompson to Chief Operating Officer and Adrian Headon as Chief Financial Officer. Thompson joined Millgate as a partner in 2007 from Barclays Global Investors where he was head of equity trading in Europe. Headon joins Millgate from Morgan Stanley Fund services. He brings with him extensive experience having previously held CFO positions both at Cairn Capital Group and Kedge Capital Group. Duncan Brown will be joining Millgate Capital in London from Winton Capital, where he spent several years leading the marketing efforts for what has become one of the largest and most successful funds in the world. He will be responsible for helping to raise new assets and also for business development at Millgate in response to investor needs.
Members of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System’s Board of Administration unanimously re-elected Rob Feckner to a fifth term as the System’s President, and George Diehr as its Vice President for a second year. “I feel privileged to serve as President of the CalPERS Board for another year,” said Feckner. “We face some formidable challenges in the months ahead, in our economy and in our financial markets. I want to take this opportunity to let our members and employers know that we will work hard to protect their retirement and health security, and be mindful that this is a difficult time for everyone.” Feckner, who is a representative on the Board for school members, was first elected to the CalPERS Board in 1998. He serves as a member of the Health Benefits, and Investment Committees. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Benefits and Program Administration Committee. Feckner previously served as the Board’s Vice President and Chair of the Investment Committee.
Citi has hired Mark Harrison into the role of European Head of Prime Finance. He will assume the responsibility from Nick Roe who has been European and Global Head of Prime Finance since March 2008. During his career Harrison has been the Global COO for Equity Derivatives and European Head of Securities Lending at Morgan Stanley and International Head of Prime Brokerage and Securities Lending at Deutsche Bank. Since leaving Deutsche Bank he set up Carlyle Blue Wave with the ex-Deutsche Bank Head of Proprietary Trading and more recently was COO at Cheyne Capital. Harrison will report to Nick Roe, Citi Global Head of Prime Finance, also based in London. Harrison will remain at Cheyne Capital until the end of April 2009 when his notice period expires and he joins Citi.
Quod Financial has announced the appointment of Cyril Barthélémy as the new Director of Product Development, overseeing its Adaptive Execution Platform (AEP) and application modules. Barthélémy will manage the entire product lifecycle, including architecture development and enhancements, to ensure its adaptive trading capabilities keep ahead of customers’ evolving multi-asset and electronic execution needs. Barthélémy joins from GL TRADE where, over a 15-year period, he led projects and developed applications to improve the quality of trading for financial institutions worldwide. He spent several years heading up exchange-related initiatives, first overseeing installations at the Sao Paulo BOVESPA, Singapore SIMEX and Lisbon BVL exchanges then building European venue connectivity for multiple solutions. Barthélémy also directed an internal project to identify and execute product enhancements in preparation for MiFID.
The Universities Superannuation Scheme, the second largest UK pension fund, has made the first hire for its planned move into hedge funds. Emily Porter has joined as a Portfolio Manager for the Absolute Return Strategies programme and will report to Mike Powell, Head of Alternative Assets at USS. Powell commented: “I am very pleased to announce the addition of Emily to the alternatives team at USS to help launch our hedge fund investment programme. Emily is the first of a number of hires we will be making in this area to build our in-house hedge fund selection capability. We believe that the current turmoil in the hedge fund industry represents a compelling investment opportunity for investors like USS who are able to take the long-term view. The Absolute Return Strategies programme will form a core part of our strategy for alternatives assets.” Porter previously worked at Key Asset Management where she was employed as an Investment Director focussing on event driven and distressed hedge fund research, as well as managing multi strategy fund of hedge fund portfolios. Prior to joining Key Asset Management, she worked for Asset Alliance as a hedge fund senior analyst, Aurum in hedge fund analysis, and ABN AMRO Asset Management as a hedge fund analyst.
Maitland has appointed the former Walkers attorney David Pytches, as partner in its Cayman operation. With approximately 10 years experience in the fields of trusts and succession law, and a reputation as one of the leading specialists on Cayman Islands law in relation to these areas of practice, Pytches will be responsible for heading-up the non-contentious commercial and private trusts team for Maitland in Cayman. He advises institutional trustees and private clients on all aspects of Cayman trusts law, including the establishment of complex trust structures for tax and estate planning purposes, private trust companies, the use of trusts in commercial transactions, the obligations of trustees, the rights of beneficiaries and the functions of protectors and enforcers. Sara Collins, Partner and Head of Maitland’s Cayman office commented: “New developments, such as the introduction of new regulations facilitating the use of private trust companies, are resulting in increased interest in Cayman Islands structures, and David’s expertise is perfectly suited to meet these demands.”
Old Mutual Asset Managers has hired Ji Young Park as an analyst in its Asia equities team, which is led by Philip Hunter. Park joins from the London office of Legg Mason International Equities, where she researched emerging market consumer stocks. She has over 12 years’ experience, having worked as a sell-side analyst at a number of investment banks in both London and New York, before moving to the buy-side. Philip Hunter, manager of the Old Mutual Asian Select Fund, comments: “We are delighted that Ji has joined OMAM. She is a talented investment professional with extensive analytical experience and I am confident that she will strengthen our research capability.”
Hermes has announced the appointment of Jonathan Pines as Director of Global Emerging Markets, Equities. Pines joins from RAB Capital where he was Joint Manager of the Global Emerging Markets Fund. He was formerly at Orbis and Akulalwa Capital. He brings over 10 years experience in the investment management industry including seven years in Emerging Markets equities. Pines gained an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Accountancy and Commerce at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He has been tasked with building Hermes’ Emerging Markets equities presence by continuing its strong long-term investment record in this area and helping to grow third party mandates.
Blue Sky Asset Management has strengthened its business support team with the appointment of Chris Gillam, as Business Development Manager. Gillam joins BSAM, with immediate effect, from Cazenove Capital Management, where he was UK Key Account Manager, in its specialist investment division, since 2005. Prior to Cazenove, Chris worked at both Morley Fund Management and HSBC Asset Management, over a period of seven years, in business development and intermediary support roles focusing on Life Company and IFA relationships. Chief Executive at Blue Sky Asset Management, Chris Taylor, said: “The addition of Chris to the BSAM team, as Business Development Manager, is the latest step in the expansion of BSAM. The appointment reflects the increasing audience of wealth management firms and professional advisers that we are working closely with.”
The International Centre for Financial Regulation has announced that David Currie has been appointed as the first Chairman of the ICFR with immediate effect. Throughout his distinguished Currie has focused upon regulatory issues. He chaired the initial working group responsible for preparing the ICFR’s prospectus and terms of reference two years ago. Currie will help direct the strategy for the ICFR in addition to establishing relations with potential stakeholders across the globe and advising on research and training. Barbara Ridpath, Chief Executive of the ICFR said, “It is a delight to welcome such a qualified and experienced Chairman. David’s help in increasing the visibility of the ICFR across the globe will be invaluable and his knowledge of the sector will further add to the quality of the ICFR’s output”.
GoldenTree Asset Management has announced that Lauren Garner has joined as Research Analyst. Garner is focusing on distressed investments across all business sectors with responsibilities encompassing both existing investments and new opportunities. Garner reports to Steve Tananbaum, Chief Executive Officer of GoldenTree. Garner has extensive experience in alternative investments area, specialising in distressed assets. She joins GoldenTree from JD Capital Management, where she was a Senior Analyst in the Distressed and High Yield Credit group. For the multi-strategy fund, Garner analysed investment opportunities across the capital structure in stressed credits and special situations. Prior to JD Capital, she was at Tudor Investment Corporation for five years as a Distressed Debt and Public Equity Analyst. She graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey with a B.S.E degree in Operations Research and Financial Engineering.
Quadrangle Group said that Howard Margolis, Tushar Shah and Sigurd Strack have joined the firm’s asset management business. Margolis will serve as Director of Real Assets for Quadrangle Asset Management and as a Principal of Quadrangle Group. Shah will serve as Director of Public Markets for QAM and as a Principal of Quadrangle Group. Strack will serve as Director of Private Equity Investments for QAM and as a Principal of Quadrangle Group. All three men will report directly to Alice Ruth, Chief Investment Officer for QAM.
