A service that provides independent directorship to hedge funds and investment funds has been launched in the UK & Ireland.

Independent Fund Director Services provides an experienced and qualified investment professional who can either join the fund board as an independent director or act as an advisor to the fund board.  

The services available include ongoing detailed analysis of portfolio activity, risk measurement and valuation as well as reviewing the activities of third-party providers such as custodians and administrators.   

The business has been established by Kevin Gallacher, formerly Managing Director of Dublin-based Merrion Investment Managers.

“Recent high profile failures in the financial system and cases of fraud in the funds industry have focused renewed attention on corporate governance and the role of independent directors,” said Kevin Gallacher.

Independent Fund Director Services carries out detailed portfolio analysis to ensure that independent directors on fund boards know exactly what their portfolios hold.  Besides providing professional investment support for independent directors, this service offers tremendous commercial benefits to fund managers and promoters.

“Increasingly, institutional investors require investment funds to evidence that they have informed and active independent directors.  When investment funds work with us, they can demonstrate that they have a high standard of governance and this will help them to win mandates from professional investors,” explained Kevin Gallacher.