ISAM adds to team to meet business growth

11 Jan 2011
International Standard Asset Management, the hedge fund manager led by Stanley Fink and Larry Hite, has announced additions to its team with two high-profile, experienced industry leaders.

Alexander Lowe joins this month as Business Development Director of ISAM, and Riva Waller has been brought in as Chief Operating Officer based in New York. Both formerly worked at Man Group.

Lowe will be responsible for expanding the institutional and operational capabilities of the business and driving new product development. Lowe was previously CEO of Man Global Strategies and Director of Man Investments Ltd from 2006-2009, where he managed a team of 60 people, running over 100 products and investing $19bn of client commitments into a range of hedge fund strategies globally. He joined Man Group Plc in 2003 as Head of Product Development at MGS, where he was responsible for product design and implementation. Prior to this role, Lowe was Senior Trader at BNP Paribas from 2001-2003 and Senior Salesman at ING Barings from 1998-2001.

In New York, Waller has joined ISAM as Chief Operating Officer following a 16 year career at Man Investments. Another Man Group veteran, herself, Waller initially joined the Mint Investment Management Company joint venture with Man Group in 1993 as a Financial Controller. Working directly with Larry Hite and Alex Greyserman, now principals of ISAM since its strategic alliance with Hite Capital Management was formed in February 2010, she transitioned to Man Investments Ltd in 2001 to develop its managed account capabilities. In 2007 she was named Head of Managers & Managed Accounts and was a senior member of Man´s Product Structuring Finance & Legal leadership team when she moved into the Multi-Manager business in October 2009.

ISAM Chief Executive Stanley Fink says: “Alex and Riva bring a tremendous wealth of experience and drive to our business on both sides of the Atlantic. Their combined experience of nearly thirty years in running more than 100 managed accounts across equity hedge, managed futures, event driven, relative value, global macro and commodities strategies, means they are each a natural fit in our business. We are delighted to have them on board as ISAM enters the next phase of growth, building out the CTA business, developing our multi-strategy platform of liquid hedge fund strategies and institutionalising our product mix to offer our clients new and greater performance.”

Also joining the New York office’s Institutional Sales team is Brian McHugh, who comes from Aspect Capital where he was responsible for existing distribution relationships with wire houses and private banks in North America.

Meanwhile, ISAM Principal, Rod Barker will be leaving the firm to become CEO of a new asset management business being established in partnership with Sir John Beckwith’s Pacific Investments.

Fink adds: “Rod has contributed a vast amount to the development of ISAM over the last 18 months and honoured his responsibilities with grace. We wish him every success in the future.”