For the second consecutive year, Witherspoon Partners has been invited to present a workshop for emerging managers at the Opal Emerging Manager Summit South, taking place in Austin, Texas on November 7th (www.opalgroup.net). The conference is one of two annual events hosted by Opal specifically tailored to emerging hedge fund managers and those who invest in them. The interactive workshop will address fund branding and identity, resources available to support an efficient hedge fund operation, the challenges of launching a fund post-2008, and common pitfalls to avoid. The workshop will especially focus on what is one of the most underemphasized yet most important ingredients to the success of any new fund/firm: marketing.
Founding Partner Keith Danko will lead the Witherspoon workshop, and will share experiences and insight gleaned over many years as both an allocator to and a marketer of hedge funds. “The market has been shifting. In addition to weaker hedge fund performance, there has been a reduction in new fund launches. These and other dynamics make it more challenging than ever for a new or small hedge fund to find capital—let alone thrive,” notes Danko. “Our workshop will provide some practical strategies to help managers understand the importance of marketing and a proper approach to business development.”
Danko has a unique 360° perspective on the challenges of launching a successful hedge fund. As CEO and CIO of ACAM, he managed top-quartile funds of hedge funds, and allocated capital to over one hundred managers, while tripling ACAM’s assets under management. In his role as CEO of CQS, he successfully led the marketing effort of the firm’s hedge fund products in the Americas during the difficult environment following the financial crisis. Danko was also senior partner of Titan Capital, where he set up the Hong Kong office and helped develop the Titan Asia Fund.
Joining Danko at the workshop will be Phoebe Outerbridge, Managing Director of Witherspoon Partners.