The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), the world's largest alternative investment trade body, welcomes Jon May, Group General Counsel at Marshall Wace, as the new Chair of its governing body, the AIMA Council. Jon assumed his new role on 18 September.

Jon has been an AIMA Council Director since 2020 and brings more than twenty-five years of industry experience.

Jon succeeds Karl Wachter, General Counsel of Magnetar, who served as Chair from 2020 to 2025 and as a Council Director since 2014. Karl will now retire from the AIMA board.

Under Karl’s tenure, AIMA’s global membership achieved new highs in terms of the number of fund manager and investor members, as well as the breadth of markets and activities reached.

AIMA Chair Jon May said: “I am very much looking forward to working with Jack Inglis, the Council and the AIMA team in continuing the crucial work that AIMA undertakes globally to support our industry. It is a great honour to succeed Karl Wachter.  He was an outstanding Chair who guided AIMA expertly and successfully through one of the most turbulent periods of regulatory change that we have experienced.”

Outgoing Chair Karl Wachter said: “Serving on the AIMA Council has been a true privilege, and I am proud of the strides AIMA has made in navigating a challenging regulatory landscape and strengthening the organisation more generally. AIMA is in excellent hands with Jon May, and I look forward to seeing it continue to thrive under his leadership.”

AIMA CEO Jack Inglis said: "I'd like to thank our outgoing Chair, Karl Wachter of Magnetar, for his outstanding leadership. He guided our Council with authority and gravitas during a critical period for our industry and was instrumental in our three successful legal challenges to SEC rulemakings in the US. His assuredness has been invaluable in shaping AIMA's strategy as the largest and most effective global trade body for the alternative investment industry.

"I warmly welcome Jon May of Marshall Wace as our new Chair. Jon has served with distinction as Chair of AIMA's Government Affairs Committee and as a Council director for five years, contributing significantly to AIMA's strategic direction. I look forward to working closely with him in further growing our mission to meet the ever-increasing demands of our global members."

About AIMA

AIMA is the world's largest membership association for alternative investment managers. Its membership has more firms, managing more assets than any other industry body, and through our 10 offices located around the world, we serve over 2,000 members in 60 different countries.

AIMA's mission, which includes that of its private credit affiliate, the Alternative Credit Council (ACC), is to ensure that our industry of hedge funds, private market funds and digital asset funds is always best positioned for success. Success in our industry is defined by its contribution to capital formation, economic growth, and positive outcomes for investors while being able to operate efficiently within appropriate and proportionate regulatory frameworks.

AIMA's many peer groups, events, educational sessions, publications and practical tools like its Due Diligence Questionnaires and industry sound practice guidance available exclusively to members, enable firms to actively refine their business practices, policies, and processes to secure their place in that success.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Drew Nicol

Director, Research and Communications, AIMA

[email protected]