Alternative asset manager Duet Group has recruited Michel Danechi and Kalim Aziz as fund manager and research analyst respectively, from Armajaro. The pair will launch the Duet Emerging European UCITS Fund in July with approximately USD100 million. Duet believes that recent events in Eastern Europe and the broader region have created a very attractive entry point for the firm’s investors.   Duet Emerging Europe will add to Duet Group's strong emerging market and commodities franchise.  The EM range includes frontier, MENA and Africa funds as well as a range of frontier and emerging market private equity funds.   Danechi (pictured)

Arabesque Partners, the London and Frankfurt-based asset management firm, has appointed Dr Robert G Eccles (pictured) as the company’s first Chairman with immediate effect. Currently Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, Eccles arrives at Arabesque with a reputation as a global leader in transparent reporting and sustainable value creation through environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.   An award-winning academic and author of twelve books including ‘The Integrated Reporting Movement: Meaning, Momentum, Motives and Materiality’, Eccles is the founding Chairman of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and a steering member of the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC).

Preston Hollow Capital has added Lynn Wheatley (pictured) as Senior Credit Underwriter. Wheatley’s corporate responsibilities include evaluation, analysis and underwriting of the real property components of the firm’s investments.  “Lynn’s extensive experience as a commercial real estate underwriter give us depth in this critical function as we continue to grow the business,” says Jim Thompson, the Chairman and CEO of Preston Hollow Capital. Before joining Preston Hollow Capital, Wheatley worked with GE Capital for 11 years. While with GE, Wheatley served as Senior Vice President at GE Capital Bank where he managed the credit perspective for its commercial real estate

Sir Hector Sants is to join Julius Baer International Limited as Chairman effective 1 July 2015.  Sants succeeds Gian A Rossi, Head Northern, Central and Eastern Europe and member of the Executive Board of Bank Julius Baer & Co Ltd, who is stepping down as Chairman after nine years but will remain actively involved with the firm’s business in the UK.   “It is a great honour to welcome Sir Hector to Julius Baer. With his appointment we continue to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the UK, and I am sure that we will benefit greatly from his long-standing experience

BTIG has added Pershing LLC, a BNY Mellon company, as a global custodian and clearing broker for BTIG’s multi-custodial and clearing Prime Brokerage platform. With this new relationship in place, BTIG provides two custodian and clearing broker options, Pershing and Goldman Sachs Execution & Clearing, LP, for the firm’s Prime Brokerage clients and their assets.  “During our review of their offering, we were very impressed by Pershing’s technology, understanding of the operational environment and their attention to detail. This relationship will help us to continue to service our clients at the highest level, connecting them with top-tier services that help

BNY Mellon has been appointed by alternative fund managers Saemor Capital and Pelargos Capital to provide AIFMD depositary, fund administration, and middle office and investor services for assets valued at EUR800 million. BNY Mellon will support three existing Dutch funds in addition to the future launch of new investment products, such as Cayman or UCITS funds, on behalf of the two managers, which share an operational platform.   Patrick van de Laar, chief operating officer for both firms, says: “BNY Mellon came out first in our due diligence process in which we looked for a global service provider that could

Linedata has appointed John Kiley as EVP of Sales and Co-Head of the Global Front and Middle Office Asset Management business line.   Kiley will be responsible for global business development and client adoption strategies across the Front and Middle Office product suite, including Linedata Longview, Linedata Trader+, Linedata Compliance and Linedata Reporting.    The addition of Kiley, who brings over 20 years of experience generating rapid and substantial growth in investment management software to Linedata, further reinforces Linedata’s buy side expertise and ability to meet the ongoing needs of the global client base. Before joining Linedata,Kiley was Executive Vice

Harneys has recruited two partners and one senior associate to the firm’s investment funds practice in the Cayman Islands. Ian Gobin, Matthew Taber and Jonathan Bernstein are leaving Appleby and will join Harneys in the Cayman Islands as soon as they are free to do so under their existing arrangements. Ian is currently a partner (and until recently was global head of funds and investment services) for Appleby. Matthew and Jonathan, counsel and senior associate respectively, are members of Appleby’s funds and investment services department in the Cayman Islands. They have a combined 30 years’ experience working with institutional clients

Philip Bartow has joined RiverNorth Capital Managemenas a Portfolio Manager. In his new role, Bartow will work closely with RiverNorth’s Chief Investment Officer, Patrick Galley, to build upon the firm’s existing capabilities and develop its marketplace lending strategy. Bartow has more than 10 years of experience identifying attractive opportunities in the lending and fixed income markets. Previously, Bartow was a Principal at Spring Hill Capital, where he focused on asset-backed fixed income and real estate debt investments. Bartow began his career within the fixed income division at Lehman Brothers in New York, where he held a variety of roles in