Balyasny Asset Management (BAM) has secured another high-profile hire, bringing on Citadel trader David Brodsky with a compensation package worth up to $50 million, according to a report by Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the matter.
Brodsky, a specialist in healthcare stocks, will join BAM after completing a 21-month non-compete period with Citadel. While Citadel explored ways to retain him, Balyasny’s offer – reportedly including a path to partnership – ultimately sealed the deal. Founder Dmitry Balyasny was personally involved in the negotiations, according to Bloomberg’s sources.
“David Brodsky has been a top performer for years. We are very pleased he has decided to join BAM,” a Balyasny spokesperson confirmed in a statement.
Brodsky had been a consistently profitable trader for Citadel but suffered losses during early 2025’s market volatility. A Citadel spokesperson noted that his drawdown exceeded $60m before he departed. “We offered him Citadel’s support to work through the draw, but he declined,” the firm stated.
This latest recruitment underscores Balyasny’s evolving hiring strategy – shifting from junior traders to aggressively pursuing top-tier, experienced money managers. The firm has previously poached high-priced talent, including Peter Goodwin from Point72 and former Citadel portfolio manager Alberto Mann, both reportedly offered over $50m in potential compensation.
Balyasny, which oversees approximately $23bn in assets, has been a standout performer in 2025, posting a 3.5% gain in the first two months of the year—outpacing its major multi-strategy rivals. Despite a brief setback in early March, the firm has since recovered part of its losses, according to sources.
