Aston Hill Financial Inc. is undergoing a major shift in its front office and portfolio-management changes. The Calgary-based asset-management firm announced on Tuesday the resignation of Jeffrey Burchell, its co-chief investment officer. Aston Hill’s president and co-CIO, Ben Cheng, takes over as sole CIO for the firm, a position he previously held.
The firm says it has appointed Peter Anderson to an interim senior executive role effective August 1, although it held off providing further details of Anderson’s role pending regulatory approval. Anderson was a senior executive at CI Financial for 15 years, serving as chief investment officer and head of institutional sales until 2012. He joined Aston Hill’s board of directors in November 2014.
Burchell, who had been with Aston Hill since November 2010, and co-CIO since May 2013, will join Gluskin Sheff and Associates Inc. of Toronto as managing director and portfolio manager, effective August. Burchell will be lead portfolio manager for the GS+A Focused Long/Short Portfolio, according to Gluskin Sheff.
As part of its re-organization announcement, Aston Hill said it also will be undergoing portfolio-management changes on four of its open-end mutual funds:
> Aston Hill Capital Growth Fund. Portfolio management responsibilities will be assumed by John Kim.
> Aston Hill Global Growth and Income Fund. Portfolio management responsibilities will be assumed by the fund’s co-manager, Vivian Lo, vice president and portfolio manager.
> Aston Hill Opportunities Fund. Portfolio management responsibilities of this hedge fund will be assumed by Ben Cheng and John Kim.
> Aston Hill U.S. Growth Fund. Portfolio management responsibilities will be assumed by John Kim and Darren Cabral, president of Aston Hill Capital Markets Inc.
Aston Hill says it will be taking a number of cost-cutting measures. For example, it plans to consolidate certain corporate functions, such as corporate finance, accounting and human resources, currently being run from the Calgary office to the Toronto office.
Aston Hill invites investment advisors to join a conference call hosted by Ben Cheng and Peter Anderson on Thursday, July 2 at 10:00 ET. Portfolio managers John Kim and Vivian Lo will also host a conference call for investment advisors on Monday, July 6 at 16:10 ET.