Former Goldman Sachs trader Benjamin Arnold has launched Meraki Global Advisors (Meraki) an independent financial services firm, aiming to provide a ‘conflict-free platform’ for asset managers.
Meraki’s offering will aim to generate alpha for asset managers through ‘cost-efficient unbiased trading, leverage management, and operational solutions.’ Meraki does not affect transactions for customers through a clearing broker arrangement. The firm’s structure allows it to remain a truly independent and unbiased extension of a client’s investment team, thereby operating as a pure buy-side offering.
Meraki’s inception was a direct result of the changing industry landscape.
‘Current appetite amongst hedge funds, family offices, and traditional asset managers for highly-skilled outsourced trading and a scalable operating model is accelerating. Funds continue to face shrinking returns, downward pressure on fees, and increased regulations while simultaneously incurring more costs to run their funds’ says Founder & CEO, Arnold.
With over 50 years of combined sell and buy-side trading and operational experience, the Meraki team harnesses it’s world class expertise navigating global financial markets to serve clients. Founder Arnold left a Senior Sales Trading role at Goldman Sachs as he saw disruptions in fund management create opportunities for a premium outsourced trading offering.
‘Meraki Global Advisors offers more than a service; our platform delivers a competitive advantage by uniting savvy traders and innovative technology while cultivating long-term partnerships through trust & uncompromising integrity,’ he says.
In addition to Arnold, the management team includes Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer Khurrum Ajazi, previously at Cowen Inc and Ernst & Young in New York, Chief Compliance Officer Joshua Boyer, whose previous employers include Goldman Sachs, Royal Bank of Scotland, and Alpine Securities, and Co-Head of Trading EJ Stockley, formerly with First State Investments UK and Singapore, and Janus Capital in Singapore and Denver.
