Brevan Howard has seen several senior departures from its commodities investment business over the past year, as experienced portfolio managers and strategists have moved to rival firms, according to a report by eFinancial Careers.
Among those to have exited is former global head of commodities Elycia Sherman, who joined the firm from Hartree Partners in November 2023. Sherman is understood to have left the hedge fund during 2025, although her departure had not previously been publicly reported.
A further round of exits took place in March 2026. Kobi Platt left to join Bridgewater Associates, while Switzerland-based natural gas trader Robert Alpen returned to commodities merchant Englehart. In the US, portfolio manager Jeff Nietschmann departed for Castleton Commodities International.
The three investment professionals all joined Brevan Howard after Sherman’s arrival. Platt and Alpen were recruited in May 2024, while Nietschmann, who previously worked at Millennium Management, joined the firm in November 2024.
Sherman’s appointment in late 2023 marked a renewed push by Brevan Howard to expand its commodities platform. At the time, reports indicated she had been hired to build a dedicated investment team with an anticipated allocation of around $750m. The move represented another attempt by the firm to strengthen its presence in commodities markets after an earlier trading effort ended more than a decade ago.
Despite the departures, Brevan Howard continues to operate an active commodities business.
