Pictet Alternative Advisors (PAA), Pictet Group’s wholly-owned alternative investment company, has appointed Heinrich Merz (pictured), as head of Hedge Funds, effective 1 June 2017. Merz will lead PAA’s team of 14 hedge fund experts managing EUR 9.1 billion of assets in single and multi-manager hedge fund strategies. He will report to Nicolas Campiche, CEO of PAA.   Heinrich Merz has 12 years’ experience in the alternative investments industry. In his most recent role he was Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Amundi Alternative Investments, overseeing more than EUR5.6 billion in alternative assets for institutional clients. Previously, he worked for Permal Investment

Kempen Capital Management (Kempen) has appointed Michel Iglesias del Sol (pictured), as Head of Investment Strategy, and a member of the management team, for the firm’s Client Solutions’ team. In his new position, Iglesias del Sol will be responsible for defining strategic and dynamic asset allocation advice, while also being involved in research of innovative investment topics.   Iglesias del Sol’s previous roles includes Head of Investments and a member of the board at Willis Towers Watson Netherlands – and brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of the pensions industry as well as in asset liability management,

OpenFin has appointed Paul Walker (pictured), former co-head of Technology for Goldman Sachs, to the firm’s Board of Directors. The newest board member joins six other financial industry leaders in helping to provide guidance and insight to a pioneering company focused on the underpinnings of technology in capital markets. At Goldman Sachs, Walker most recently served in a senior technical role as co-head of the Technology Division. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2001, and during his career led many of Goldman’s efforts in risk, analytics, clearing and systems architecture. Paul is an active philanthropist, working with organisations that provide opportunity

Alex Arnold, Former CEO and Research Director of Detwiler Fenton & Co, has joined Odeon Capital Group as a Managing Director on the firm’s Equity Research team, covering the Consumer sector as well as Technology and Media. At Detwiler, Arnold constructed the firm’s research model around TMT, then Consumer and Clean Energy, and managed it for more than a decade. With more than 20 years of investment experience, Alex has been recognised as a “Best on the Street” analyst by the Wall Street Journal; but he’s also run a hedge fund, participated on the investment banking side of the business.

Sanne has made a senior appointment in its New York office, with Fred Steinberg (pictured), joining the firm as Managing Director – New York. With more than 30 years of industry experience, Fred will have responsibility for the day-to-day operations of Sanne’s New York and Belgrade offices. He joins Sanne from Morgan Stanley, New York, where he held the position of executive director in finance overseeing its closed ended alternative asset funds.   Steinberg will also help drive the business forward by strengthening Sanne’s market-leading proposition for clients in the Americas and abroad through the business’s outsourced alternative asset and

The Global Financial Markets Association (GFMA), which represents the common interests of the world’s leading financial and capital market participants, has appointed Allison Parent as its new Executive Director, effective 19 June.   Parent will succeed David Strongin who announced his retirement earlier this year. In this role, Parent will be responsible for the day-to-day management of GFMA including all policy initiatives, advocacy and communications efforts. Parent will be based in SIFMA’s Washington, DC office and report directly to the CEO of GFMA.   “We are thrilled to welcome Allison to GFMA,” says Mark Austen (pictured), CEO of GFMA and CEO

P Schoenfeld Asset Management (PSAM) has appointed John McVeigh as a Deputy Portfolio Manager of US Merger Arbitrage. McVeigh brings more than 12 years of investment experience in merger related situations to PSAM. Most recently, he was a Managing Director at TIG Advisors, a global event-driven fund focused on M&A, corporate restructurings and merger related special situations with more than USD1.5 billion in assets under management.   “John will be a strong addition to our recognised teams in New York and London and will reinforce our long term commitment to the strategy. His presence reflects our ongoing effort to expand

Aegon Asset Management US has added veteran portfolio manager Christopher Hartman to the company’s fixed income investment team. Hartman has 18 years of industry experience, including nine years as a portfolio manager of the Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund. He started at Aegon Asset Management on 19 June, 2017.   “We look forward to Chris applying his extensive convertible arbitrage expertise to the development of a market neutral strategy,” says Gary Black (pictured), CEO for Aegon Asset Management US. “Chris has the experience, talent and track record in the alternatives space to develop a differentiated strategy that complements the firm’s

Tim Warrington (pictured), has been elected the new chairman of the Group of Boutique Asset Managers (GBAM) at the organisation’s AGM in London on Friday. Stavanger-based Warrington, the deputy Managing Director of Norwegian asset manager SKAGEN, joins past Chairman, Jose Luis Jimenez, Chief Investment Officer at Mapfre, and South African Hlelo Giyose, CEO of Johannesburg-based First Avenue Asset Management, on the GBAM Board. Also elected was Ladislao Larrain, the CEO of Chilean asset manager Larrain Vial Asset Management.   Beltran Parages of Madrid based value manager, azValor, retires from the Board by rotation having served three years. John Morgan, MD