Witherspoon Partners has once again been invited to present a workshop for emerging managers at the Opal Emerging Manager Summit, being held for the first time in New York City at the Crowne Plaza Times Square on September 14-15 (www.opalgroup.net). The conference is one of Opal’s annual events specifically tailored to emerging fund managers and those who invest in them. The interactive workshop will address capital raising, fund branding and messaging, essential resources that support an efficient alternative fund operation, and common mistakes and misunderstandings of newer managers. The workshop will spotlight two of the most overlooked yet important ingredients to the success of any new fund/firm: marketing and business development.
Founding Partner Keith Danko will lead the Witherspoon workshop, sharing experiences and insight gleaned over many years as both an allocator to and a marketer of hedge funds. “The market continues to evolve and present new challenges to established and especially emerging managers across the alternative spectrum, challenges that can make it more difficult than ever for a fund to raise capital and to thrive,” notes Danko. “Our workshop will provide some practical strategies to help managers understand the importance of marketing and other crucial considerations.”
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 100 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.