Key Takeaways
- • Downing LLP appointed Tony Stenning as head of liquid alternatives and Huw Price as head of alternatives structuring, marking a significant expansion of the firm's alternatives capabilities in response to client demand.
- • Stenning brings 17 years of experience from BlackRock (1999–2016), where he contributed to growing the firm's assets under management from $17 billion to $150 billion, followed by a tenure as CEO of Atlantic House Group (2020–2022).
- • Price joins from Santander Asset Management with over 30 years of industry experience, specializing in risk management, derivatives, and alternative investment structuring.
- • Downing currently manages £1.9 billion in assets and has operated for over 35 years; the firm added a multi-asset fund-of-funds range for UK advisers in April 2023, positioning this hire as part of broader strategic expansion.
- • The combined team brings over 125 years of sector knowledge and aims to launch new actively managed liquid alternative products to expand investor opportunities.
Summary
Downing LLP has strengthened its alternatives division with the appointment of Tony Stenning and Huw Price, signaling the firm's commitment to expanding its liquid alternatives capabilities. Stenning, who rejoined the financial services industry after departing his role as CEO of Atlantic House Group in 2022, assumes the position of head of liquid alternatives. Price, formerly an executive director at Santander Asset Management, takes on the role of head of alternatives structuring. Both appointments are positioned to support Downing's strategic growth objectives amid increasing institutional and retail demand for alternative investment solutions.
Stenning's appointment represents a notable return to senior asset management following a planned exit from Atlantic House after three years in the role. His career trajectory includes 17 years at BlackRock, where he occupied senior positions during a period of significant institutional asset growth. During his tenure at BlackRock, the firm expanded its assets under management from $17 billion in 1999 to $150 billion, a period that encompassed substantial public markets and product development expertise. Price's addition complements this appointment, bringing deep technical expertise in risk management and derivatives structuring—disciplines critical to designing sophisticated liquid alternative products.
The timing of these hires reflects Downing's expansion strategy following its April 2023 launch of a multi-asset fund-of-funds range for UK financial advisers. The firm currently manages £1.9 billion in assets and has maintained operations for over 35 years. Kostas Manolis, Downing's head of private market investments, characterized the appointments as essential to meeting evolving client requirements, noting that Stenning's "significant public markets experience and deep knowledge and creativity" combined with Price's "significant expertise" position the firm to expand its product offerings. The combined experience base of the appointments exceeds 125 years of sector knowledge, with plans to launch new actively managed liquid alternative products under their leadership.
Stenning's appointment represents a notable return to senior asset management following a planned exit from Atlantic House after three years in the role. His career trajectory includes 17 years at BlackRock, where he occupied senior positions during a period of significant institutional asset growth. During his tenure at BlackRock, the firm expanded its assets under management from $17 billion in 1999 to $150 billion, a period that encompassed substantial public markets and product development expertise. Price's addition complements this appointment, bringing deep technical expertise in risk management and derivatives structuring—disciplines critical to designing sophisticated liquid alternative products.
The timing of these hires reflects Downing's expansion strategy following its April 2023 launch of a multi-asset fund-of-funds range for UK financial advisers. The firm currently manages £1.9 billion in assets and has maintained operations for over 35 years. Kostas Manolis, Downing's head of private market investments, characterized the appointments as essential to meeting evolving client requirements, noting that Stenning's "significant public markets experience and deep knowledge and creativity" combined with Price's "significant expertise" position the firm to expand its product offerings. The combined experience base of the appointments exceeds 125 years of sector knowledge, with plans to launch new actively managed liquid alternative products under their leadership.
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