Consultants top HFM investor influence list

Date: Thursday, March 8, 2012
Author: Tony Griffiths, HFMweek

Investment consultants should now be regarded as the most influential group in the hedge fund investor community, contributors to HFMWeek’s countdown of powerful allocators and advisors have said.

The 30-strong list, which was topped by a consultant, London-based Albourne Partners, featured a total of seven advisory firms.

The ranking was compiled following a series of interviews with industry experts, including cap intro professionals, prime brokers and investors themselves, as well as HFMWeek editorial judgement.

One leading industry professional said that, unlike a few years ago, “most prime brokers now acknowledge consultants as the most influential firms in the hedge fund investment world”.

Another investment bank executive said the consultants were now the most powerful investor group in the space, followed by US funds of hedge funds, US institutions and seeders worldwide.

In Deutsche Bank’s 2012 institutional investor survey, 60% of respondents said they planned to use consultants, up from 30% in 2011, and 21% in 2002.

For the full rundown of HFMWeek’s Investor Power 30 list, please click here