By Claire Makin
As the wholly owned subsidiary of a very large global bank, EACM Advisors might be expected to present a bland, generic face to the world. To the contrary, the $3.7 billion Norwalk, Connecticut-based hedge fund of funds advisor is very much its own shop, with a strong culture rooted in investment consulting.
It was nearly 30 years ago that EACM – in a previous incarnation – began advising institutional clients on hedge fund investing. Now, more than 80% of the firm’s assets consist of ‘bespoke’ hedge fund portfolio mandates for institutions, which is an enviable amount by the standards of most of EACM’s competitors.
“Coming from an institutional consulting firm, our culture is about providing solutions,” says William Crerend, chief executive officer. At the risk of sounding clichéd, he adds that this client focus does make a real difference. “I think it’s singular in...