AIMA

View staff A-Z

Senior Management

Andrew Baker

Chief Executive Officer - Email Andrew Baker

Andrew Baker is the Chief Executive Officer of AIMA.

Prior to joining AIMA he spent six years at Schroders in London where he was COO - Alternative Investments.

Previously, Andrew held senior business management positions at Gartmore and UBS Asset Management after a fifteen year spell of managing institutional assets at HD International and N. M. Rothschild. In the early 1980s he spent two years on secondment at the Bank Of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.

Andrew has a degree in Mathematics from Imperial College, London and is married with three children.
 

 

Jiri Krol

Deputy CEO, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs - Email Jiri Krol

Jiri Krol joined AIMA in April 2010, was appointed Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs in April 2011 and in May 2013 became Deputy CEO. Prior to joining AIMA, he worked at the European Commission, where he was responsible for the coordination of the Commission’s policy towards the Financial Stability Board and the G20.

Jiri started his career at the Czech securities market regulator. He then moved to the European Commission’s Internal Market Directorate-General, where he was responsible for the drafting and negotiation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) implementing measures. While at the Commission, he also worked on the Non-Equity Market Transparency and the Commodity Derivatives reviews.

Previously, Jiri was appointed Financial Markets Policy Director in the Czech Ministry of Finance in 2007. In 2009, he led the Czech European Union Presidency’s work in the area of financial services, which involved finalising the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD II) and the Solvency II Directive as well as the Credit Rating Agencies regulation negotiations.

He studied international relations, economics and politics at Tufts University, London School of Economics and Sciences Po.

 

Christen Thomson

Deputy CEO, Head of External Affairs - Email Christen Thomson

Christen joined AIMA as Director of Communications in December 2008. In May 2012 he was made Director of External Affairs and then in May 2013 he was made Deputy CEO. Christen works with AIMA staff and volunteers globally to ensure coordinated and consistent messaging to our multiple audiences (including hedge fund managers, service providers, the press, investors and the general public).

Previously, Christen was in charge of coordinating global PR activities for Colliers Macaulay Nichols, a $1bn international real estate services provider. Prior to this he spent 12 years at the BBC, joining Radio 5 Live in 1995, and going on to work for Home Newsgathering as a duty news editor and then BBC World and News 24 as senior producer and reporter.

Christen has a degree in Modern History from Oxford University and is married with two children.

 

Government & Regulatory Affairs

Jiri Krol

Deputy CEO, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs - Email Jiri Krol

Jiri Krol joined AIMA in April 2010, was appointed Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs in April 2011 and in May 2013 became Deputy CEO. Prior to joining AIMA, he worked at the European Commission, where he was responsible for the coordination of the Commission’s policy towards the Financial Stability Board and the G20.

Jiri started his career at the Czech securities market regulator. He then moved to the European Commission’s Internal Market Directorate-General, where he was responsible for the drafting and negotiation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) implementing measures. While at the Commission, he also worked on the Non-Equity Market Transparency and the Commodity Derivatives reviews.

Previously, Jiri was appointed Financial Markets Policy Director in the Czech Ministry of Finance in 2007. In 2009, he led the Czech European Union Presidency’s work in the area of financial services, which involved finalising the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD II) and the Solvency II Directive as well as the Credit Rating Agencies regulation negotiations.

He studied international relations, economics and politics at Tufts University, London School of Economics and Sciences Po.

 

Mary Richardson

Director, Head of Tax Affairs - Email Mary Richardson

Mary joined AIMA in 2002, to establish a regulatory department, and in March 2011 she became responsible for tax affairs, including the work of the Tax Committee. Mary is also the Company Secretary. She qualified as a lawyer and also holds a degree in English from King’s College, London University and a postgraduate diploma in financial services law, also from London University.

 

Jennifer Wood

Director, Head of Asset Management Regulation - Email Jennifer Wood

Jennifer Wood, Director, Head of Asset Management Regulation, joined AIMA in September 2012.

Prior to joining AIMA, Jennifer was a Partner in Dechert LLP’s London financial services group, where she focused her practice on advising UK, US, European and Asian financial services firms, investment managers and investment funds on US regulatory matters, including investment adviser and fund registration and compliance matters, fund formation matters and fund governance among other things. She studied finance at the University of Iowa and law at the Columbia Law School, where she was the editor-in-chief of the Columbia Business Law Review.

 

Adam Jacobs

Director, Head of Markets Regulation - Email Adam Jacobs

Adam Jacobs joined AIMA in February 2013 and is Head of Markets Regulation. Prior to joining AIMA, he worked at the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), where he focused on European regulatory initiatives dealing with OTC derivatives markets, notably the review of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID).

Adam started his career at the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA), where he worked in both policy and supervisory roles. He also undertook a number of projects for the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR). In 2009 he was seconded from the FSA to the European Commission in Brussels, where he worked on Solvency II.

Adam has an MA in German and French from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in European Policy and Management from Birkbeck.

 

Wesley Lund

Associate Director, Markets Regulation - Email Wesley Lund

Wesley Lund was appointed Associate Director, Markets Regulation for AIMA in October 2012. Prior to joining AIMA, he spent four years at Linklaters LLP, having specialised in derivatives and structured products. While at Linklaters, Wesley spent time on client secondments at Goldman Sachs International, Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (In Administration), Man Investments AG and The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Wesley is a qualified solicitor and has a degree in Philosophy and Politics from The University of Edinburgh.

 

Anna Berdinner

Regulatory Analyst, Asset Management Regulation - Email Anna Berdinner

Anna Berdinner was appointed Regulatory Analyst, Asset Management Regulation for AIMA in February 2012. Prior to joining AIMA, she worked for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where she worked in the financial institutions disputes group, the structured asset finance group and the corporate financial services regulation group.

Anna is qualified as a solicitor and has a degree in Law and German from Southampton University.

 

Oliver Robinson

Regulatory Analyst, Markets Regulation - Email Oliver Robinson

Ollie Robinson joined AIMA in November 2011 and was appointed Regulatory Analyst within the Markets Regulation team in May 2012. Ollie has an LLB in Law from Cardiff University and an LLM in International Commercial Law from Durham University.

 

Fiona Pridham

Executive PA - Email Fiona Pridham

Fiona joined AIMA in November 2010 as Executive PA to Jiri Krol, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs. Fiona has previously worked in a number of blue chip companies including financial institutions, the OECD, the metals and oil industries, structural and civil engineering. She also has experience in office management and as a freelance translator (French/Italian/Spanish).

 

Jane Moran

Executive PA - Email Jane Moran

Jane joined AIMA in June 2009, and provides secretarial and administrative support to the Government & Regulatory Affairs team. Prior to joining AIMA, Jane spent 11 years working in the private equity sector.

 

Pearl Hawkey

PA - Email Pearl Hawkey

Pearl joined AIMA in May 2012 and provides PA support to the Government & Regulatory Affairs team as well as the Research Team. She has a wealth of experience in PA support/administrative roles and worked as a PA for an accountancy firm whilst being in the UK. Prior to relocating to the UK in December 2001, Pearl held PA support/administrative roles in South Africa within software, manufacturing and other industries.

 

Asset Management Regulation

Jennifer Wood

Director, Head of Asset Management Regulation - Email Jennifer Wood

Jennifer Wood, Director, Head of Asset Management Regulation, joined AIMA in September 2012.

Prior to joining AIMA, Jennifer was a Partner in Dechert LLP’s London financial services group, where she focused her practice on advising UK, US, European and Asian financial services firms, investment managers and investment funds on US regulatory matters, including investment adviser and fund registration and compliance matters, fund formation matters and fund governance among other things. She studied finance at the University of Iowa and law at the Columbia Law School, where she was the editor-in-chief of the Columbia Business Law Review.

 

Anna Berdinner

Regulatory Analyst, Asset Management Regulation - Email Anna Berdinner

Anna Berdinner was appointed Regulatory Analyst, Asset Management Regulation for AIMA in February 2012. Prior to joining AIMA, she worked for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where she worked in the financial institutions disputes group, the structured asset finance group and the corporate financial services regulation group.

Anna is qualified as a solicitor and has a degree in Law and German from Southampton University.

 

Pearl Hawkey

PA - Email Pearl Hawkey

Pearl joined AIMA in May 2012 and provides PA support to the Government & Regulatory Affairs team as well as the Research Team. She has a wealth of experience in PA support/administrative roles and worked as a PA for an accountancy firm whilst being in the UK. Prior to relocating to the UK in December 2001, Pearl held PA support/administrative roles in South Africa within software, manufacturing and other industries.

 

Markets Regulation

Adam Jacobs

Director, Head of Markets Regulation - Email Adam Jacobs

Adam Jacobs joined AIMA in February 2013 and is Head of Markets Regulation. Prior to joining AIMA, he worked at the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), where he focused on European regulatory initiatives dealing with OTC derivatives markets, notably the review of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID).

Adam started his career at the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA), where he worked in both policy and supervisory roles. He also undertook a number of projects for the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR). In 2009 he was seconded from the FSA to the European Commission in Brussels, where he worked on Solvency II.

Adam has an MA in German and French from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in European Policy and Management from Birkbeck.

 

Wesley Lund

Associate Director, Markets Regulation - Email Wesley Lund

Wesley Lund was appointed Associate Director, Markets Regulation for AIMA in October 2012. Prior to joining AIMA, he spent four years at Linklaters LLP, having specialised in derivatives and structured products. While at Linklaters, Wesley spent time on client secondments at Goldman Sachs International, Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (In Administration), Man Investments AG and The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Wesley is a qualified solicitor and has a degree in Philosophy and Politics from The University of Edinburgh.

 

Oliver Robinson

Regulatory Analyst, Markets Regulation - Email Oliver Robinson

Ollie Robinson joined AIMA in November 2011 and was appointed Regulatory Analyst within the Markets Regulation team in May 2012. Ollie has an LLB in Law from Cardiff University and an LLM in International Commercial Law from Durham University.

 

Tax Affairs

Mary Richardson

Director, Head of Tax Affairs - Email Mary Richardson

Mary joined AIMA in 2002, to establish a regulatory department, and in March 2011 she became responsible for tax affairs, including the work of the Tax Committee. Mary is also the Company Secretary. She qualified as a lawyer and also holds a degree in English from King’s College, London University and a postgraduate diploma in financial services law, also from London University.

 

Communications

Christen Thomson

Deputy CEO, Head of External Affairs - Email Christen Thomson

Christen joined AIMA as Director of Communications in December 2008. In May 2012 he was made Director of External Affairs and then in May 2013 he was made Deputy CEO. Christen works with AIMA staff and volunteers globally to ensure coordinated and consistent messaging to our multiple audiences (including hedge fund managers, service providers, the press, investors and the general public).

Previously, Christen was in charge of coordinating global PR activities for Colliers Macaulay Nichols, a $1bn international real estate services provider. Prior to this he spent 12 years at the BBC, joining Radio 5 Live in 1995, and going on to work for Home Newsgathering as a duty news editor and then BBC World and News 24 as senior producer and reporter.

Christen has a degree in Modern History from Oxford University and is married with two children.

 

Dominic Tonner

Associate Director, Communications - Email Dominic Tonner

Dominic Tonner joined AIMA in 2009 and is the Associate Director, Communications of AIMA. Previously, he was a journalist for 14 years, writing for a variety of newspapers and magazines in both London and the Cayman Islands including The Sunday Times of London, the Financial Times and Cayman Financial Review. He has a degree in media and communications from UCE and is married with a daughter.

 

Katie Corbin

DEA PA - Email Katie Corbin

Katie joined AIMA in February 2011 and provides PA support to the Communications Team.  Katie previously worked at the London Chamber of Commerce as an assistant to the Chief Executive’s Office. Katie has also worked as a PA in a number of other industries including charity and property.

 

Membership Services

Angie Elrick

Membership Manager - Email Angie Elrick

Angie is our Membership Manager and is responsible for coordinating and maintaining our global engagement with members.

Angie joined AIMA in May 2007 to provide support to our Regulatory & Tax Department, and was previously Manager, Government Affairs & Policy. In July 2010 Angie took a year’s maternity leave and has returned to the Association to complement our efforts in bringing value and support to our members. Prior to joining AIMA, Angie worked as a Legal Secretary for Travers Smith.

 

Events

Christen Thomson

Deputy CEO, Head of External Affairs - Email Christen Thomson

Christen joined AIMA as Director of Communications in December 2008. In May 2012 he was made Director of External Affairs and then in May 2013 he was made Deputy CEO. Christen works with AIMA staff and volunteers globally to ensure coordinated and consistent messaging to our multiple audiences (including hedge fund managers, service providers, the press, investors and the general public).

Previously, Christen was in charge of coordinating global PR activities for Colliers Macaulay Nichols, a $1bn international real estate services provider. Prior to this he spent 12 years at the BBC, joining Radio 5 Live in 1995, and going on to work for Home Newsgathering as a duty news editor and then BBC World and News 24 as senior producer and reporter.

Christen has a degree in Modern History from Oxford University and is married with two children.

 

Deborah Babbage

Events Manager - Email Deborah Babbage

Deborah joined AIMA in August 2011 as Events Manager within the Department for External Affairs. She is a dedicated global events specialist with over nine years' experience in the events industry. Prior to joining AIMA, Deborah spent eight years at the City of London managing high-profile conferences for the public sector, organising quality corporate events, and project managing conference sponsorship within its Public Relations Office.

 

Sound Practices

Tom Kehoe

Associate Director, Head of Research - Email Tom Kehoe

Tom joined AIMA as Research Manager in October 2008 and was made Associate Director, Head of Research, in October 2012. Responsible for research of the industry, Tom also works closely with AIMA’s CEO and Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs in supporting the executive’s advocacy efforts. Tom is also responsible for the development of AIMA’s sound practices work.

Tom has over 10 years' experience working in research. Prior to joining AIMA in October 2008 Tom spent four years working in hedge fund research and due diligence with BNP Paribas in New York and Dublin.

He has an honours degree in Finance and French from N.U.I. Maynooth, a Masters in Finance from the National College of Ireland and a Graduate Certificate in Investment Management from Dublin City University. In addition, Tom is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst member, where he presides on the CAIA curriculum committee.
 

 

Education & Research

Christen Thomson

Deputy CEO, Head of External Affairs - Email Christen Thomson

Christen joined AIMA as Director of Communications in December 2008. In May 2012 he was made Director of External Affairs and then in May 2013 he was made Deputy CEO. Christen works with AIMA staff and volunteers globally to ensure coordinated and consistent messaging to our multiple audiences (including hedge fund managers, service providers, the press, investors and the general public).

Previously, Christen was in charge of coordinating global PR activities for Colliers Macaulay Nichols, a $1bn international real estate services provider. Prior to this he spent 12 years at the BBC, joining Radio 5 Live in 1995, and going on to work for Home Newsgathering as a duty news editor and then BBC World and News 24 as senior producer and reporter.

Christen has a degree in Modern History from Oxford University and is married with two children.

 

Tom Kehoe

Associate Director, Head of Research - Email Tom Kehoe

Tom joined AIMA as Research Manager in October 2008 and was made Associate Director, Head of Research, in October 2012. Responsible for research of the industry, Tom also works closely with AIMA’s CEO and Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs in supporting the executive’s advocacy efforts. Tom is also responsible for the development of AIMA’s sound practices work.

Tom has over 10 years' experience working in research. Prior to joining AIMA in October 2008 Tom spent four years working in hedge fund research and due diligence with BNP Paribas in New York and Dublin.

He has an honours degree in Finance and French from N.U.I. Maynooth, a Masters in Finance from the National College of Ireland and a Graduate Certificate in Investment Management from Dublin City University. In addition, Tom is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst member, where he presides on the CAIA curriculum committee.
 

 

Pearl Hawkey

PA - Email Pearl Hawkey

Pearl joined AIMA in May 2012 and provides PA support to the Government & Regulatory Affairs team as well as the Research Team. She has a wealth of experience in PA support/administrative roles and worked as a PA for an accountancy firm whilst being in the UK. Prior to relocating to the UK in December 2001, Pearl held PA support/administrative roles in South Africa within software, manufacturing and other industries.

 

Operations & Administration

Kirk Taylor

Associate Director, Head of Operations - Email Kirk Taylor

Kirk joined AIMA in August 2004 and is currently an Associate Director and our Head of Operations. He has previously held several other operational positions at AIMA. He was previously working at a publishing company managing financial databases on public organisations and private companies and has a degree in Accountancy.

Kirk is responsible for AIMA's IT and other systems including the maintenance of our confidential database and our website. He also manages our day-to-day accounting processes and a number of other administrative functions.

 

Loraine Michael

Executive PA - Email Loraine Michael

Loraine joined AIMA in February 2008 and is the Executive PA for Andrew Baker, CEO, working closely with him with his strategic and operational plans for AIMA. Loraine has previously worked in a number of leading financial institutions and management consultancies including Barclays, Standard Chartered, Ernst & Young, PwC and KPMG, as well as the insurance, software and commercial aircraft industries. She has held responsibility for office management, team leader, human resources administration and marketing, and brings a wealth of experience and skills to the organisation.  Loraine is the proud mother of one son.

 

Fiona Pridham

Executive PA - Email Fiona Pridham

Fiona joined AIMA in November 2010 as Executive PA to Jiri Krol, Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs. Fiona has previously worked in a number of blue chip companies including financial institutions, the OECD, the metals and oil industries, structural and civil engineering. She also has experience in office management and as a freelance translator (French/Italian/Spanish).

 

Jane Moran

Executive PA - Email Jane Moran

Jane joined AIMA in June 2009, and provides secretarial and administrative support to the Government & Regulatory Affairs team. Prior to joining AIMA, Jane spent 11 years working in the private equity sector.

 

Pearl Hawkey

PA - Email Pearl Hawkey

Pearl joined AIMA in May 2012 and provides PA support to the Government & Regulatory Affairs team as well as the Research Team. She has a wealth of experience in PA support/administrative roles and worked as a PA for an accountancy firm whilst being in the UK. Prior to relocating to the UK in December 2001, Pearl held PA support/administrative roles in South Africa within software, manufacturing and other industries.

 

Katie Corbin

DEA PA - Email Katie Corbin

Katie joined AIMA in February 2011 and provides PA support to the Communications Team.  Katie previously worked at the London Chamber of Commerce as an assistant to the Chief Executive’s Office. Katie has also worked as a PA in a number of other industries including charity and property.

 

Stacie Willson

Database Administrator - Email Stacie Willson

Stacie joined AIMA in October 2007 as our Receptionist, became our Office Administrator in April 2009 and Database Administrator in February 2013.  She currently performs duties in relation to database updating and administration and membership processing. Stacie previously studied floristry and worked within a family-run business.

Stacie Willson is currently on maternity leave and Charlotte Newton is providing cover. Please contact Charlotte on cnewton@aima.org.