AIMA

View staff A-Z

Senior Management

Todd Groome

Chairman - Email Todd Groome

Todd Groome, former Advisor, Monetary and Capital Markets Department for the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was appointed Chairman of AIMA in January 2009. At AIMA, Mr Groome has been extensively involved in developing the association’s strategy and policy agendas.

Mr. Groome is also a Senior Advisor to Albourne Partners with regard to global legislative and regulatory developments related to financial markets and services, including hedge funds and other sectors. He is also a Visiting Scholar at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in the areas of pensions, insurance, and risk management.

Mr. Groome has significant financial markets experience developed over an extensive career in capital markets, in both the public and private sectors. Prior to the IMF, he led investment banking and capital markets teams in the banking and insurance areas at Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch in London and New York. Most recently, Mr. Groome provided macroeconomic and market advice to the Mosaic multi-strategy hedge fund.

With over 25 years of international financial experience, Todd brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic abilities which greatly enhance AIMA’s existing dialogue with national, international and supranational organisations.

 

 

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

Director of Policy and Government Affairs - Email Jiri Krol

Jiri Krol was appointed Director of Policy and Government Affairs for AIMA in April 2010. 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 G-20.

Mr Krol 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, Mr Krol 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.

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

 

Christen Thomson

Director of Communications - Email Christen Thomson

Christen joined AIMA as Director of Communications in December 2008. Responsible for developing and executing AIMA’s communications strategies, Christen is also responsible for Membership and Events. He  works closely with AIMA’s CEO and Director of Policy in engaging with stakeholders on behalf of the hedge fund industry.

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.

 

Mary Richardson

Director of Regulatory & Tax Department - Email Mary Richardson

Mary joined AIMA in 2002, after assisting in its incorporation, and established the department, which is responsible for maintaining and developing relations with regulatory and tax authorities around the world, responding to all consultation papers and putting forward proposals for developments. Mary instigated AIMA’s central regulatory and taxation online resource facility and is the ‘link person’ in AIMA's Tax Committee. She has been closely involved with AIMA’s Regulatory Fora events and other educational events, such as seminars for UK tax authorities and policy makers. Mary is also the Company Secretary.

Mary qualified as a lawyer. She also holds a degree in English from King’s College, London University and a postgraduate diploma in financial services law, also from London University.

 

Policy

Jiri Krol

Director of Policy and Government Affairs - Email Jiri Krol

Jiri Krol was appointed Director of Policy and Government Affairs for AIMA in April 2010. 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 G-20.

Mr Krol 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, Mr Krol 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.

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

 

Angie Elrick

Manager - Policy & Government Affairs - Email Angie Elrick

Angie joined AIMA in May 2007 and is our Manager of Policy and Government Affairs. Angie is responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of public affairs strategy with our Policy, Communications and Research teams – working particularly closely with AIMA’s CEO and Executive Director.

Angie previously worked as Manager and Associate for Communications & Policy and, before that, support to our Regulatory & Tax Department.  Prior to joining AIMA, Angie worked as a Legal Secretary for Travers Smith and an Investment Services Associate for Russell Investment Group. With AIMA’s strategy having been developed to communicate more widely with policy makers, Angie brings much needed support to this important area.

Angie is currently on maternity leave until July 2011.

 

Regulation & Tax

Mary Richardson

Director of Regulatory & Tax Department - Email Mary Richardson

Mary joined AIMA in 2002, after assisting in its incorporation, and established the department, which is responsible for maintaining and developing relations with regulatory and tax authorities around the world, responding to all consultation papers and putting forward proposals for developments. Mary instigated AIMA’s central regulatory and taxation online resource facility and is the ‘link person’ in AIMA's Tax Committee. She has been closely involved with AIMA’s Regulatory Fora events and other educational events, such as seminars for UK tax authorities and policy makers. Mary is also the Company Secretary.

Mary qualified as a lawyer. She also holds a degree in English from King’s College, London University and a postgraduate diploma in financial services law, also from London University.

 

Matthew Jones

Associate Director, Regulatory & Tax Department - Email Matthew Jones

Matthew spent 6 months on secondment to AIMA during 2005, joined the team full time in March 2006 and became an Associate Director in April 2008. He was previously the Professional Support Lawyer for the Financial Services Group at Simmons & Simmons.

Matthew works alongside Mary Richardson in the Regulatory Department with responsibility for a number of AIMA's regulatory projects, including, in the recent past, the co-ordination and finalisation of AIMA Guidance Notes on Market Ethics, MiFID, the CRD and FAIFs.

 

Daniel Measor

Regulatory Assistant - Email Daniel Measor

Daniel joined AIMA in 2010, and provides assistance to the Regulatory & Tax team on legal and regulatory matters. He has previously worked in the Financial Services and Investment Funds practice at Allen & Overy, specialising in the provisions of the UK FSA, EU and US regulatory regimes. Daniel holds a law degree from the University of Kent and is a non-practising barrister, being called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 2007.

 

Jane Moran

Regulatory & Tax Secretary - Email Jane Moran

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

 

Education & Research

Christen Thomson

Director of Communications - Email Christen Thomson

Christen joined AIMA as Director of Communications in December 2008. Responsible for developing and executing AIMA’s communications strategies, Christen is also responsible for Membership and Events. He  works closely with AIMA’s CEO and Director of Policy in engaging with stakeholders on behalf of the hedge fund industry.

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

Research Manager - Email Tom Kehoe

Tom has over 9 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 honors degree in Finance and French from NUI 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.

 

Sound Practices

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.
 

 

Tom Kehoe

Research Manager - Email Tom Kehoe

Tom has over 9 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 honors degree in Finance and French from NUI 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.

 

Communications

Christen Thomson

Director of Communications - Email Christen Thomson

Christen joined AIMA as Director of Communications in December 2008. Responsible for developing and executing AIMA’s communications strategies, Christen is also responsible for Membership and Events. He  works closely with AIMA’s CEO and Director of Policy in engaging with stakeholders on behalf of the hedge fund industry.

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

Communications Officer - Email Dominic Tonner

Dominic joined AIMA as Communications Officer in August 2009, where he is responsible for executing AIMA’s communications strategies.

Previously, Dominic worked as a journalist for 14 years. In London, he worked for a variety of media organisations including The Sunday Times and Financial Times Business. He also spent several years as a newspaper editor and author in the Cayman Islands.

Dominic has a degree in media and communications from Birmingham City University.

 

Membership Services

John Stephens

Membership Services Manager - Email John Stephens

John joined AIMA in April 2005 after spending a good deal of his working career within business development. He has worked within the conference industry and was Sales Director for a leading corporate travel company.

John is our Membership Services Manager, focusing on business/membership development and assisting members in their day-to-day enquiries.

 

Operations & Administration

Kirk Taylor

Operations Manager - Email Kirk Taylor

Kirk joined AIMA in August 2004 and is currently our Operations Manager. He previously held positions at AIMA as Data & Systems Manager until January 2007 and Operations Officer to April 2009. He was previously 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 looks after our day-to-day accounts and a number of other administrative functions.

 

Ali Coles

Executive PA - Email Ali Coles

Ali joined AIMA in November 2003 and is Executive PA to AIMA’s Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Jiri Krol. In addition to co-ordinating high-level meetings and managing extensive travel and diary arrangements, Ali assists in the administration of AIMA’s annual Regulatory Forum.

Prior to joining AIMA, Ali has been responsible for office management and has gained invaluable experience from working within the travel industry.

 

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 on strategic and operational plans for AIMA. Loraine has previously worked in a number of top 10 financial institutions and management consultancies, also insurance, software and commercial aircraft industries. She has held responsibility for office management, human resources administration and marketing, and brings a wealth of experience and skills to the organisation.

 

Jane Moran

Regulatory & Tax Secretary - Email Jane Moran

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

 

Lucy Sales

Team PA - Email Lucy Sales

Lucy is Team PA, providing support to the Director of Communications and the Communications, Research and Policy teams. Lucy has progressed through AIMA having originally been appointed in March 2006 as Receptionist and then promoted to AIMA’s Membership Services Administrator. She previously held positions in the hospitality industry.

 

Stacie Milton

Office Administrator - Email Stacie Milton

Stacie joined AIMA in October 2007 as our Receptionist and became our Office Administrator in April 2009.  She performs various office management duties whilst assisting staff in the organisation of events and meetings. Stacie previously studied floristry and worked within a family-run business.

 

Branch Offices

Corey Goldman

Chief Operating Officer - AIMA Canada - Email Corey Goldman

As Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian national group of the Alternative Investment Management Association, Corey Goldman works closely with AIMA Canada’s Executive Committee on a broad range of association management duties, including focusing on broader policy and strategy objectives as well as marketing, member liaison and communications.

Corey began his career in the field of business journalism and communications, contributing to such publications as the Toronto Star, Canadian Business Magazine, Investment Executive, Wired Magazine, CNN Financial News, ABC News and others. He earned a Masters degree from Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communications in 1996 and an honours degree in history from York University in 1993.

His volunteer accomplishments include the Sasha Bella Fund For Family Centred Care through the Hospital For Sick Children, Lilah's Fund, which raises funds for study and treatment of neuroblastoma, Blooming Acres, a specialty camp for children with Tourette’s syndrome, Down syndrome, autism and other physical and mental challenges and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

He is also a board member of New York-based Hedge Funds Care, the only global hedge fund-focused philanthropy solely dedicated to helping prevent and treat child abuse, as well as President and Director of Hedge Funds Care Canada, the organization's local presence in Canada.
 

 

Jo Orgill

General Manager - AIMA Hong Kong - Email Jo Orgill

Josephine Orgill joined as General Manager of the Hong Kong Branch in February 2009. Prior to working with AIMA, Jo was Chief Operating Officer for Hong Kong based hedge fund manager First Horse Capital Limited. This followed 10 years with Credit Suisse in Singapore, London and Hong Kong in a variety of roles predominantly in Equities including Chief Operating Officer for Non Japan Asian and Head of Client Relationship Management for Asia Pacific.

Jo began her career with Ernst & Young in Australia and is a qualified Australian Chartered Accountant. She has also worked as a private client adviser in equities and is an Associate of the Securities Institute of Australia.

 

Ming Wang Chua

Manager - AIMA Singapore - Email Ming Wang Chua

Ming Wang joined as Manager of the AIMA Singapore branch in January 2010.

Ming Wang has over 13 years of experience in the financial industry and holds both the CFA and CAIA designation. She was most recently a Consultant with Mercer Investment Consulting, advising institutional clients on asset allocation and investment management issues. She is also well-versed in wealth management issues for the high net worth individuals, having being an Investment Consultant with Citibank Singapore and also successfully completed the Certificate in Private Banking course with Wealth Management Institute. Prior to that Ming Wang also played a pivotal role in developing the financial information database and analytics functions at Bloomberg.