Merlin, a prime brokerage services and technology provider offering integrated solutions to the alternative investment industry, has hired Brian VS McKenna as a partner in the Merlin Institutional Group (MIG). In this role, McKenna will enhance MIG’s institutional sales efforts to large hedge funds and money managers in New York and the Northeast region.
“Brian’s addition allows us to further expand the Merlin Institutional Group and broadens our ability to provide hedge fund clients with differentiated investment ideas and high-quality execution,” says Stephan Vermut, founder and managing partner of Merlin. “Brian is well recognized within the institutional investment community, and I am very pleased to welcome him to Merlin.”
Prior to joining MIG, McKenna was a senior managing director and global relationship manager for independent financial advisory group Collins Stewart Hawkpoint, where he covered relationships with major financial institutions. He was also responsible for investment banking development, analyst recruiting and business development. Before Collins Stewart, McKenna served as a managing director for investment firm William Blair & Co., where he established both the Boston and New York offices.
MIG was established in April 2009 to provide original equity research, corporate access, trading ideas and execution to medium and large hedge funds. McKenna joins MIG’s team of existing partners, Jesse Cole, Jason Mallor and Jim Magill.
“Merlin is one of the most well-respected brands in the prime brokerage services arena, and since 2009, the firm has built upon that success with a complementary and thriving institutional research, sales and trading effort,” says McKenna. “I look forward to becoming part of such an innovative company, and continuing the growth of this division of the firm.”
