14/12/2011 Author: Gwyn Roberts

Falcon Edge hires new chief operating officer

Falcon Edge Capital, the highly anticipated fund launch from veterans of Blue Ridge Capital and Eton Park Capital, has appointed James Minshull as COO. Former COO Martin Byman, has taken a position with OxFORD Asset Management, a UK-based quant fund, according to industry sources.

Minshull, who was Eton Park’s international COO until 2008, was responsible for the running of the firm's London and Hong Kong offices, overseeing all international operations. During his time at Eric Mindich’s successful global multi-strategy fund, Minshull reported directly to global COO, Stuart Hendel - now the global head of prime brokerage at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.  

At Falcon Edge, Minshull will now, according to sources, take control of an “unusually strong” team that, so far, comprises three other operational professionals. He will spend significant time during the first year of launch at Falcon Edge’s New York office.

Falcon Edge Capital, which will likely launch Q1 2012, is the  product of a partnership between ex-Blue Ridge partner Rick Gerson and Navroz Udwadia, a London-based emerging markets specialist formerly with Eton Park.

Opening with its main office in New York, as well as a smaller London presence, the new fund will adopt a global, multi-asset class mandate with a particular emphasis on long/short equity and emerging markets. Although both men are working together for the first time, they are described by prime brokers as sharing a “unique view of the markets”, and have jointly assembled a strong investment team.

The new fund crystallises a recent trend for larger launches from veteran managers. In October, HFMWeek revealed that Stone Milliner Asset Management, currently being established by a partnership of London and Zurich-based Moore employees, led by Jens-Peter Stein and and two former Morgan Stanley directors, will open for business as soon as 1 January 2012, with assets of around $1bn.

According to one prime broker, Falcon Edge may launch with a similar sum and is already in contact with a number of investors, including a sovereign wealth fund.

“Both [founders] have a reputation that will attract investors,” said one. The fund is also thought to have received initial support from Blue Ridge founder John Griffin.