The link-up between Man Group and Oxford University dates from a 2007 commitment by the hedge fund operator to provide funding of £10.5 million over five years for a centre to foster close research collaboration between firm and university. Man Group spent £1.2 million kitting out Eagle House and provided a further £3.3 million to fund in perpetuity a chair for the first Professor of Quantitative Finance within the university, whose inaugural occupant is Professor Thaleia Zariphopolou. Professor Per Mykland is also joining the institute as the Man Professor of Finance and Statistics.
“The Institute provides Oxford with a facility to get things it was doing across the university into one place,” says Anthony Ledford, chief scientist at AHL, Man Group’s flagship managed futures fund. “This is a natural home for those quantitative people to bring their skills together. It is a very intimate relationship we have here between the university and the business.”
The Institute counts more than 60 research staff made up of members, associate members and advanced students. It is with the later group and their successors who enter into doctoral research programmes that Man Group hopes to forge a close relationship in the years ahead. A key aim is to secure a “first look” at pioneering quantitative research ahead of publication. “We can get a privileged view of that research,” says Ledford. “The real benefit comes from being part of the academic furniture. We are seeing benefits in terms of applications to AHL. It is a material benefit we feel we have here.”
AHL: special pedigree
You must subscribe in order to see the rest of this article.
Sign up for a free 1 month trial now.
