Mercer Investment Consulting has announced the appointment of Bill Muyskento to the role of Chief Investment Officer for Alternative Alpha Strategies. Muysken has more than 20 years investment experience including his role as a portfolio manager for Thames River Capital’s multimanager alternatives team. Before his work in the hedge funds industry, Muysken had a 14 year career with Mercer, rising to Global Head of Research. Previously, Muysken had served for more than five years as Mercer’s Global Head of Manager Research and has worked as a senior actuarial advisor in the Australian Government. In his new role, Muysken will be responsible for overseeing the investment management of strategies that include exposure to alternative alpha. His role will include development and launch of new strategies, as well as oversight of pre-existing strategies already under Mercer’s discretionary management. Mercer has also announced that Lars “Jimmie” Asplund has been appointed Global Director of Analytics, Research and Tools. Previously, Asplund was with Morningstar where he oversaw the development of fund research methodologies for Europe and ran teams in product development, business development and data gathering across Europe. His association with Morningstar began in 1998 when he co-founded a Swedish internet fund research firm licensing the use of the Morningstar brand and methodologies. Morningstar acquired an ownership stake in the firm prior to forming their European business in 2000.
Gottex Fund Management has announced that Debra Rothman has joined Gottex as Managing Director, Head of North American Sales and Marketing and Mark Oestergaard has joined as Marketing Director in Europe. Rothman, who will be based in Boston, will play an active role in marketing and business development in North America. She has a background in consulting relations, sales, and product development and most recently was Head of Business Development at SCS Financial, leading the expansion of their fund of hedge funds effort. During her 25 year career, she has held senior roles with Robeco Investment Management, Putnam Investments and PwC. Oestergaard will be based in London and will focus on sourcing and servicing Northern-European opportunities. He has over 15 years of experience serving the institutional investor marketplace as an institutional sales professional and was most recently with asset management company London and Capital, where he worked closely with the Nordic institutions. Prior to this, Oestergaard spent four years with HSH Nordbanks Nordic brokerage arm heading up the institutional business on the equity cash side. “Hiring marketing professionals of the highest calibre is vital to our continued success, commented Max Gottschalk, Global Head of Marketing of Gottex. “We are delighted to welcome Debra and Mark to Gottex. With their extensive marketing and relationship management experience, they will augment an already strong team.”
Gartmore has announced that following the completion of an internal investigation Guillaume Rambourg, who was suspended in relation to a possible breach of an internal policy, will return to work immediately, initially as an investment analyst. In a separate move, Gartmore has announced the appointment of Darrell O’Dea, who has experience as a European long only and hedge fund manager. He was formerly lead manager of two Threadneedle Asset Management funds. Jeff Meyer, CEO of Gartmore, commented: “We felt it was important to conduct a very thorough and comprehensive investigation. I am glad Guillaume is back and contributing to the funds and pleased to welcome Darrell O’Dea to the firm. I would like to thank our clients for their support and patience in recent weeks”.
Deutsche Bank has announced that Richard Newman has joined as a Senior Risk Manager for Global Prime Finance within the bank’s Global Markets division in London. Newman will be responsible for providing risk management solutions to international hedge fund clients focused on European markets. Newman will report to Kam Singh, European Head of Prime Finance Risk and Matthew Bowen, Managing Director within Prime Finance Risk. Newman was previously Head of European Prime Brokerage Risk Management at JP Morgan where he was responsible for the determination of margin and risk policy for European hedge fund clients. “This appointment shows the commitment of the Deutsche Bank Prime Finance business to remain at the vanguard of industry development,” said Anthony Byrne, European Co-Head of Prime Finance. “We are confident that Richard’s expertise and extensive experience will be a great addition to our product offering in Prime Finance.”
Goldman Sachs Asset Management has announced that Marc van Heel has been appointed as Managing Director, Head of Benelux. Van Heel will join GSAM from PIMCO where he was Deputy Head of Business Development for EMEA, Executive Vice President. With 25 years of investment experience, van Heel has previously been Head of Relationship Management and Client Services at NIB Capital, and Head of Fixed Income at Philips Pension Fund. In the last year in particular, van Heel has focused on the Benelux and Scandinavian markets. Sheila Patel, co-head of EMEA for GSAM, commented: “I’m very excited to have Marc join the team. With in-depth knowledge of the Benelux market and a proven track record of business development, he is well placed to lead our efforts in these key markets. Marc will join a strong team committed to serving both institutional and third party clients in the Benelux.”
Russell Investments has hired Ken O’Keeffe to support the firm’s index-licensing business for ETFs. O’Keeffe formerly worked for MSCI Barra, where he most recently served as Global Head of Client Service. He is based in Russell’s office in New York City. In addition, Jamie Forbes has been promoted to serve as regional director for ETFs for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Based in London, she oversees a dedicated program focused especially on European markets, where Russell’s ETF licensing business already features five listed products. In his role as regional director for exchange traded funds based on Russell Indexes, O’Keeffe oversees licensing and future development of new and additional products for ETF providers in the Americas.
Henderson Global Investors has appointed Joost Wijstma as Director of Institutional Business for Benelux. In this new role Wijstma will report to David Morley, director of institutional sales, and locally to Steven De Vries, head of fund sales, Northern Europe. Wijstma’s primary focus will be to develop Henderson’s institutional business in the Benelux region. Wijstma brings 12 years’ asset management sales and marketing experience with him to Henderson. Most recently he led the Dutch sales team at Franklin Templeton Investments. Prior to this he held institutional business development roles for both Robeco Asset Management and ING Investment Management. David Morley, director of institutional sales, said: “This appointment demonstrates our commitment to expanding our European institutional business with the Netherlands being a key focus for our strategic development. Joost brings significant experience in this area and we are delighted that he has joined Henderson.”
Aviva Investors has announced the appointment of Ted Potter to the newly created role of Managing Director, Business Development, Europe. Potter joins from Pinebridge Investments (formerly AIG Investments) where he was responsible for leading the firm’s European Business Development effort. He has also been Chief Operating Officer at Bedford Oak Advisors, and spent six years at Goldman Sachs Asset Management in New York, where he worked in a variety of management roles in business development. Potter will be responsible for European based business development teams as well as further externalising and enhancing the European offering to third party clients while continuing to service Aviva across the region. Erich Gerth commented: “With a career in financial services spanning almost 28 years, Ted has a depth of experience and proven track record of developing and leading businesses across multiple channels both in Europe and the United States, and I am delighted with his appointment to grow our presence in this critical market.”
Eversheds has launched its Irish investment funds team in Dublin headed by new partner Stephen Carty. Carty joins Eversheds Ireland as partner and head of its Irish investment funds team. Previously a partner in Dillon Eustace, Carty has over 10 years experience advising in the area of investment funds, both in Ireland and overseas. The Dublin team advises clients seeking to establish and operate Irish investment funds. It works closely with the firm’s financial institutions group in London to offer a solution to clients seeking a range of integrated legal services across the Irish and UK markets in the investment funds space. Carty said: “With the draft Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive and UCITS IV in the pipeline, this is a very interesting time for the investment funds industry and Ireland in particular. Ireland is increasingly being viewed by both asset managers and investors as an attractive location for investment funds to domicile. I am delighted to join Eversheds and look forward to developing this business.”
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management has announced the appointment of Patrick Ramsey as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Merrill Lynch Bank (Suisse) S.A. Ramsey will be based in Geneva, Switzerland, and report to David Jervis, head of EMEA Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. In his new role, Ramsey will be responsible for the wealth management platform that already has been established at MLB(S), while continuing to attract new assets, develop new investment tools and deepen the relationship between MLB(S) and financial advisers globally. Ramsey has 17 years of experience within the financial sector and joined Merrill Lynch in 2002. Most recently, he held the position of Head of Europe Private Banking, in addition to his responsibilities as Head of Family Wealth Solutions Group and Head of Latam Private Banking. Prior to this, his roles at Merrill Lynch included Deputy Director of Sales for Global Private Client EMEA and senior portfolio strategist. Before joining the firm, Ramsey worked for a private bank in Geneva focusing on institutional asset management, including a two-year mandate to act as an investment officer at the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund in New York. David Jervis, head of EMEA Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, said, “We see an increasing number of entrepreneurs, family offices and high net worth individuals relocating to Switzerland to benefit from the favourable regulatory, political and economic environment. Patrick is an experienced leader who will drive continued growth of MLB(S) within Switzerland and globally, a key component in the overall expansion of our banking services to clients.”
Unigestion has announced the appointment of Philippe Gougenheim as Managing Director, Head of Hedge Funds. Gougenheim joins Unigestion from Man Investments where he was a Senior Portfolio Manager, having held the positions of chairman of the firm’s Investment Committee and Head of Strategic Research and Management. He was Managing Director of Millennium Capital Management from 2005 to 2008 and has previously headed proprietary trading and interest rate derivatives teams at Société Générale and JPMorgan respectively. Based in Geneva, Gougenheim will lead the development of Unigestion’s Funds of Hedge Funds Business, which comprises 37 investment professionals in offices in Geneva, London, New York, Paris, Guernsey and Singapore. His arrival will allow Unigestion’s Chief Executive Officer Patrick Fenal to devote more time to the strategic management of the Group. Bernard Sabrier, Unigestion’s Chairman, and Patrick Fenal will maintain significant involvement in the funds of hedge funds business and will continue to act as members of the strategic committee and to be part of the monthly investment committee. Commenting on the appointment of Gougenheim, Patrick Fenal, Chief Executive Officer of Unigestion, said: “Philippe Gougenheim brings enormous experience and a proven track record to the role of Head of Hedge Funds and we are delighted he is joining Unigestion. Combined with the existing expertise of our Funds of Hedge Funds team, he will add further momentum to the growth of our Funds of Hedge Funds business.”
J.P. Morgan has announced the appointment of Laurent Vanderweyen to the role of General Manager of J.P. Morgan Bank Luxembourg S.A. Vanderweyen, who joins J.P. Morgan in July, will have executive responsibility for the Luxembourg office. He will serve as a Board member of J.P. Morgan Bank Luxembourg S.A. and will lead J.P. Morgan’s Worldwide Securities Services business in Luxembourg. Dan Kramer, J.P. Morgan’s Global Fund Services Operations Executive, said “We are delighted to announce Vanderweyen to the leadership team in Luxembourg as J.P. Morgan consolidates its top position in building successful business partnerships with many of the world’s leading fund managers. Vanderweyen joins us to enhance our operations as we strengthen our organisation to ensure we continue to address the fund industry’s increasing demand for custody and administration services.” Vanderweyen joins J.P. Morgan from RBC Dexia Investor Services SA in Luxembourg where he was Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee. At RBC Dexia and predecessor organizations, Vanderweyen held several senior positions within Finance, Risk, Corporate Services and Human Resources.
GLG Partners has announced that Gerard Griffin and Gerald Lucaussy of Tisbury Capital Management will be joining the firm to lead GLG’s event driven strategies. As part of the transaction, GLG Partners will become the investment manager of the Tisbury Liquid Event Master Fund, which will be renamed the GLG Tisbury Event Driven Fund. Before founding Tisbury, Griffin was a Managing Director at Citadel Investment Group. Lucaussy held senior roles at Evans Randall Share Finance and Daiwa Securities before joining Tisbury in 2003. Emmanuel Roman, Co-CEO of GLG commented, “Tisbury has an enviable seven year track record in event driven investment strategies. Gerard and Gerald’s experience and professionalism will ensure GLG is well placed to capture the exceptional returns and opportunity for growth in this area.” Additionally, GLG Partners has announced that Jason Mitchell will be rejoining the firm’s investment management team where he will be working closely with Senior Managing Director and Co-Founder, Pierre Lagrange, and Adeline Diab. In his new role, he will be focusing on stock selection in the global environment and social governance area. Since leaving GLG in 2008, Jason has acted as Chief Operating Officer of Hydrotech International Ltd., a water treatment and patent technology company. He has also acted and continues to act as Special Advisor for Water and Telecommunications infrastructure to the Commonwealth Business Council. “Jason has built up specialist expertise that will be extremely valuable to GLG as we seek to expand our ESG capabilities,” said Lagrange. “I have been looking for some time for a way of enhancing the thematic basis of our research in this area by better stock-picking on a global basis, and I am delighted that Jason—strengthened by his industry experience—is now available to take this role.”
