Sanlam Investments analyst Paris Jordan has left the firm to join a matchmaking service for connecting fund buyers with asset managers.
Jordan (pictured), who quit Sanlam in July, has been drafted in to lead the recently-launched consulting division of research group Murano which was set up in 2011 by industry veteran Ole Rollag to connect investors and asset management firms.
The new arm, Murano Consulting, will operate as an independent division of the Murano group and use its 10 years of proprietary data to produce competitor analysis, investment strategy audits and other bespoke consultancy services for asset managers and investment firms.
Speaking to Portfolio Adviser, Jordan said: “Personally I was ready to take on another opportunity, a bigger opportunity to be part of a business which is well established, has fantastic reviews from clients and understands the allocator market very well.”
Jordan added her fund buyer experience enabled her to give asset managers an honest and impartial view of what they’re doing right and wrong.
She said: “Now I will be able to do consultancy services across a range of things, whether that is giving a frank allocator view, assistance with platform onboarding, or advice on the way an asset manager markets their fund.”
During her six years at Sanlam, Jordan developed and managed the firm’s ethical and socially responsible investment portfolios. Before that she worked as an analyst at Fidelity.
Last month she was handed the WeAreTheCity Rising Star Award 2020.
In a press release announcing the move, Rollag said the idea for a consultancy arm came about because clients were increasingly seeking strategic input on issues such as market evaluation and product perception studies.
He added: “Within the sell-side funds community, especially for the managers running smaller funds, there has been a dearth of dedicated consultancy support. Until now.”
In September last year, Murano announced the launch of Pueblo, a diary scheduling tool that facilitates meetings between fund managers and fund buyers. But the launch has been put on ice due to the coronavirus pandemic reducing the number of face-to-face meetings.
