The Hedge Fund Association has created a high net worth advisory board focused on developing educational programmes and networking events globally for HNW investors.

Its chairperson will be April J Rudin, who has over 20 years of marketing experience in both corporate and financial services settings.

In a separate move, the HFA promoted Ryan Mitchell to HFA west coast chapter regional director.

“April is an invaluable addition to the HFA’s leadership team and I believe she will do an excellent job in this challenging new position,” says Mitch Ackles (pictured), president of the HFA. “She is renowned for her ability to spot trends in investing, technology and financial services, and execute marketing plans during disruptive periods of technological advance.”

“The Hedge Fund Journal calculates that around 40 per cent of total worldwide investment in hedge funds comes from high net worth individuals,” says Rudin. “This new initiative is designed to enable the HFA to provide more directly focused advice and guidance to that key constituency. I look forward to doing the best I can in my exciting new role.”

Mitchell has more than 12 years of experience in the alternative investments industry, with vast experience in trading, manager research, portfolio construction and portfolio management. He is currently a senior vice president at Triton Capital Advisors, an independent managed futures specialist firm, which provides access to best of breed managers via segregated accounts and a managed accounts platform. At Triton, he conducts managed futures research and provides personalised portfolio construction and management services to investment advisers, family offices and individual investors.