PIMCO hires Man Group CEO Manny Roman as its new chief

[July 20, 2016]  By Maiya Keidan and Lawrence White

LONDON (Reuters) - Pacific Investment Management Co (PIMCO) has poached Emmanuel 'Manny' Roman from Man Group , the world's biggest listed hedge fund, as it tries to reverse a slump in fortunes since co-founder Bill Gross left in 2014.

PIMCO built its reputation largely through its management of fixed income securities, but has been under pressure to reverse a drop in assets under management since the abrupt departure of Gross, nicknamed 'the Bond King'.

The asset manager owned by insurer Allianz <ALVG.DE> has tried to diversify its investor base in recent years to attract clients buying equity products but has struggled to replicate its success in fixed income investment.

The Newport Beach, California-based firm has parted with several top executives it hired to help compete more strongly in other asset classes, including Virginie Maisonneuve, and Neel Kashkari, who is now Minneapolis Federal Reserve President.

Roman, 52, will take over as PIMCO chief executive officer on Nov. 1, replacing the incumbent Douglas Hodge who will stay on as senior advisor.

"Manny's deep understanding of global markets, unique skills in investment management and appreciation of PIMCO's macro-based investment process make him the ideal executive to position the firm for long-term success," PIMCO Managing Director and Group Chief Investment Officer Daniel Ivascyn said in a statement.

A PIMCO memo seen by Reuters last month showed that the company, which employs about 2,300 people, was planning to cut some 3 percent of its workforce as it grappled with falling assets and the closure of some unpopular funds.

MAN-SIZED CHALLENGE

Roman, a wine collector who donated 15,000 pounds ($19,652) to the 'In' campaign in Britain's referendum last month on EU membership, has led Man since 2013 and through a period of turmoil for the hedge fund firm..

He joined Man Group after it merged with GLG, where he was co-chief executive officer and "the real power of the group", according to Reuters sources. (http://www.reuters.com/article/uk-mangroup-roman-idUSLNE6BL02F20101222)

Prior to joining GLG in 2005, Roman worked at U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs for more than 18 years. He is also a board member of France's second listed biggest bank Societe Generale.

The offices of Pacific Investment Management Co (PIMCO) (L) are shown in Newport Beach, California August 4, 2015. REUTERS/Mike Blake/Files

Under Roman's leadership, Man restructured to try to reduce its dependence on its trend-chasing computer-driven business AHL, though Citi said on Wednesday the firm continued to be "heavily reliant" on AHL fund performance and flows.

Man lost $100 million in assets in the funds it manages in the first quarter of 2016, trimming them to $78.6 billion, though AHL helped prop up its fund manager-led equities business, GLG.
 

AHL's four flagship programs attracted $1.3 billion in new money from investors in the first three months of 2016 and achieved an average return of 5.3 percent.

Luke Ellis will succeed Roman as CEO of Man Group on Sept.1, the company said. Jonathan Sorrell will continue as president of the firm as well as chief financial officer.

At the moment, Ellis works alongside Roman as president, is a member of the executive committee and oversees Man's four investment units. He is likely to take a similar approach to Roman, according to analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

"Roman has done a good job in steering Man toward its current, robust state," said the report. "Ellis ... could be seen as a continuity candidate."

($1 = 0.7633 pounds)

(Writing by Sinead Cruise; editing by David Clarke)

[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.