Cayman Islands-based boutique corporate governance services firm Highwater has expanded its team of directors with the appointment of Yolanda Banks McCoy.  McCoy, who will be based in Cayman, has over 19 years of financial services experience.   Prior to joining HighWater, she was the head of investments and securities division of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) since November 2006. She was responsible for the regulation and supervision of hedge funds, fund administrators and securities investment companies operating in or from the Cayman Islands, as well as ensuring sound compliance and market conduct in accordance with Cayman Islands regulatory laws

Advent Capital Management has appointed Robert Gourlay as managing director and head of European business development. Gourlay is based in Advent’s London office and reports to chief operating officer Kris Haber.   “Robert has a broad professional background well suited to driving Advent’s expanding international presence,” says Haber. “His collaborative approach to working both with investors and consultants over the past 20 years has established Robert as a business development leader. We welcome Robert’s experience and look forward to his contributions to the firm.”   For nearly 10 years, Gourlay led business development at RWC Partners (formerly MPC Investors), during

Laura J McMahon has joined BakerHostetler as a partner in the firm’s corporate and energy practices based in the Houston office. She comes to BakerHostetler from Norton Rose Fulbright, where she co-chaired the Latin America practice group.   McMahon joins the firm just weeks after the Denver office arrival of Poe Leggette and team, also from Norton Rose.   McMahon brings more than 20 years of experience counselling global clients, headquartered in and outside the US, on sophisticated matters including capital markets, securities compliance, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, particularly in the midstream master limited partnerships (MLPs)

The Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) has appointed Marc-André Bechet as director of legal and tax. Camille Thommes, director general at ALFI, says: “Marc-André has extensive experience of the investment fund industry's legal, regulatory and tax environment and he will be a valuable addition to our team.”   Before joining ALFI, Bechet was head of the investment funds services at Banque Degroof Luxembourg, responsible for fund administration and custody. He was also a member of the Banque Degroof Luxembourg’s management board.   Prior to joining Banque Degroof, Bechet worked for 18 years at RBC Dexia in Luxembourg, where he held

Apex Fund Services has named Bill Salus as chief executive officer with immediate effect. Salus will take over day-to-day running of Apex from current CEO Peter Hughes, who becomes chairman.   Hughes founded Apex 10 years ago.   Salus, based in the Apex New York office, will have a particular focus on the US market.   As chairman, Hughes will focus on building Apex’s Capital Introductory Service, which helps Apex clients access investor capital. Hughes will also manage Apex’s largest clients as well as concentrate on the company’s growth strategy including acquisitions and targeting large institutional funds.    Salus, who

REDI Holdings, provider of the REDIPlus execution management system (EMS), has appointed Michael Lax as head of EMEA sales. Lax will be responsible for leading all sales and business development initiatives with the firm’s buyside clients and sell-side partners in the region.   “Regulatory forces and the general trend towards electronification, particularly in the derivatives markets, are driving a seismic shift for the trading community across EMEA,” says Sean Sullivan, global head of sales and marketing. “The buy-side requires partners who can help them not only survive but thrive amid this transformation. Given his background, expertise and insights, we expect

As part of a plan to strengthen JTC Group’s presence in London, Philip Burgin, group head of client services, will be based in JTC’s Mayfair office with effect from 15 September. With over 19 years’ JTC experience across all three divisions – private client, corporate and funds – he is responsible for overseeing the ongoing development of JTC’s client services as well as the organic growth of the business.   In addition, Burgin’s role is focussed on raising the group’s profile as well as reinforcing existing – and forging new – relationships with its intermediary network.   “London, of course,

Gottex Fund Management has appointed James Hughes to its senior multi asset investment team in London, starting on 1 October. Hughes joins as a managing director as well as member of the investment and strategy committee and will be in charge of institutional business development of the firm’s multi asset investment unit, reporting to Michael Azlen.   Hughes joins Gottex from HSBC, where he was group chief investment officer, HSBC Insurance and was the appointed representative on HSBC Global Asset Management's board. As group CIO, Hughes was responsible for assets totalling of more than USD95 billion across 14 countries globally

Investment managers Eden Rahim and Michael Bird have joined Next Edge Capital Corp to provide portfolio management and financial advisory services to the firm.  Rahim was most recently portfolio manager and options strategist on 12 globally listed covered call ETFs and responsible for management of one of the largest option books in Canada. The ETF products were based on his dynamic Buy-Write discipline developed across institutional accounts since 1994 to systematically capture income from options markets.   Eden was also a five-year, five-star Canadian growth fund manager with considerable hedging and structured products experience managing the RBC Growth Fund from 1998