Absolute Capital signs-up distribution head

Alternative investment firm Absolute Capital has appointed a new head of distribution to focus of driving its full range of multi-manager hedge funds and structured debt products in the market.

BNP Paribas head of sales and marketing Brian Long joins the group in a move which follows the recent conclusion of ABN Amro taking a 50 per cent stake in Absolute.

The new role is a quasi home-coming for Long, who spent a decade as the Victorian general manager for ABN Amro, and will now play an integral role in launching the suite of new offerings planned by the two groups.

According to Absolute Capital’s managing director Deon Joubert, Long will take responsibility for the distribution and communications functions for a variety of Absolute offering and will focus predominantly on its Australian and New Zealand wholesale business.

The role of distribution at Absolute was previously joint-occupied by Graham Smith and Tim Hewson.

However, following the appointment of Long, Smith will return to overseeing retail operations while Hewson will continue to work in wholesale and institutional business with Long.

Joubert says with ABN Amro now on board, the business will have momentum as it enters a new growth phase.

“ABN AMRO’s institutional expertise provides us with a level of insight and advice that would not otherwise be available to a boutique operator,” he says.