Spencer Young, the founder of the $2.5 billion listed hedge fund-of-funds group HFA, has stepped down as chief executive, being replaced by a newcomer to the company, Paul Jensen.
Jensen, a New Zealander, has extensive general management experience in financial services. He commenced at HFA earlier this month, but is currently on leave until January. His appointment followed a four-month search, after Young indicated he wanted to relinquish day-to-day responsibilities. Young was one of the big beneficiaries of HFA’s successful listing this year, with his investment being valued at the time at more than $60 million. He will remain on the HFA board.
The role of IFM Investors in arranging a visit by a delegation of Australian super funds to the US last month gives a pointer to the scale of the longer-term ambitions of the global super-fund-owned asset manager, and a recent investment in the manager by the UK pension fund NEST is designed to give it even greater clout. IFM chair Cath Bowtell tells Investment Magazine the manager aims to be a partner to governments around the world as they seek capital to build critical infrastructure.
Glenda KorporaalMarch 21, 2025