Russell Adds Execs to Alternatives Team

A news release said Egidio (Ed) Robertiello has been tapped as managing director of alternative strategies and will have a focus on hedge funds. Meanwhile, Stephan Breban was hired as director of private equity; and Samuel Baughn as director of operational due diligence.

According to the news release, Robertiello, who is based in Russell’s New York office, will be responsible for developing and implementing Russell’s hedge fund capabilities on a global scale.

He most recently was managing director and head of hedge fund solutions for Credit Suisse Group in New York. Previously, he worked as senior managing director, investments and research at Asset Alliance Corp. and as a managing director at The Blackstone Group, where he created and led the Manager Identification and Selection team for the company’s $12 billion fund of hedge fund affiliate Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM).

As director of private equity, London-based Breban will be responsible for further developing Russell’s private equity advice expertise globally. Before joining Russell, he served as the founder and managing director of City Capital Partners in London, a firm providing independent advice to private equity investors, and as a partner at Watson Wyatt (now Towers Watson).

Baughn, also based in New York, will lead Russell’s operational due diligence function across the spectrum of alternative investment strategies. Most recently Baughn served as principal, chief operating officer and chief financial officer for ETF Portfolio Management, LLC in New York. In this role he was responsible for managing all aspects of the firm’s operations, including infrastructure buildout, compliance program monitoring and oversight of operations and reporting.

According to the announcement, the latest hirings bring the total number of executives brought on for alternatives investments duties to 12 and additional appointments are planned in coming months.