Highland Capital Management’s head of investor relations, Nikki Aquino Gill, has joined real estate and credit firm Civitas Capital Group, HFM InvestHedge has learnt.

Aquino Gill joined the Dallas, Texas-headquartered firm last month as a director focused on internal sales and investor experience, a spokesperson confirmed.

In the role, she is responsible for maintaining and developing new and existing Civitas investor relationships, overseeing a team that communicates with the firm’s investors and manages the investor due diligence process and working closely with senior management on business development initiatives.

Aquino Gill had worked at alternatives specialist Highland, which managed some $2.7bn in hedge funds according to the most recent Absolute Return BDC research, for almost six years, joining as an IR director in 2013 before becoming investor relations head in 2015.

She left in the last quarter of 2018.

Prior to that, she held roles at Merrill Lynch, Baml and Mercer.

“We appreciate the contributions that Nikki made during her time at Highland and wish her well in her next endeavour,” a Highland spokesperson said.

Highland has not replaced Aquino Gill as her responsibilities have been assumed by third-party and internal resources, HFM InvestHedge understands.

Founded in 2008 by Daniel Healy and Rafael Anchia, Civitas focuses on niche speciality investments in such as tax credits, leveraged loans and real estate.

Highland IR head joins Civitas Capital Group on HFM InvestHedge.