Key Takeaways
- • Balyasny Asset Management hired Mike DiSpirito as an equity trader in New York, effective May 1, 2026, following more than 11 years at BlackRock as Director of Equity & Derivatives Trading.
- • DiSpirito brings 15+ years of experience across asset management and global markets, including leadership of a European trading pod covering index, systematic, quantitative strategies, risk arbitrage, ETFs, and equity derivatives at BlackRock.
- • The hire represents Balyasny's continued expansion of its trading and investment infrastructure, part of a broader talent acquisition strategy amid intensifying competition for specialized trading talent across hedge funds and systematic investing platforms.
- • DiSpirito's background spans multiple asset classes and execution styles—equity and derivatives trading in London, portfolio finance, and Markets Treasury roles—positioning him to support Balyasny's multi-strategy platform across global equities, macro, credit, and quantitative trading.
- • Balyasny has simultaneously recruited other senior talent, including Paul Battams from BlackRock as global head of equity trading, Jamie Mansell from Deutsche Bank for macro, and Dara Falahi from Capstone Investment Advisors, signaling aggressive capability-building.
Summary
Balyasny Asset Management has added Mike DiSpirito to its New York-based trading operations as an equity trader, marking another significant hire from the institutional asset management sector. DiSpirito joins the firm after spending over 11 years at BlackRock, where he most recently held the title of Director of Equity & Derivatives Trading. In that role, he led a European trading pod responsible for a complex range of strategies and asset classes, including index and systematic trading, quantitative strategies, risk arbitrage, ETFs, and equity derivatives, as well as coordinating portfolio transitions across multiple regional execution platforms.
DiSpirito's career trajectory reflects deep specialization in global equities and derivatives markets. Prior to his director role at BlackRock, he spent more than six years as Vice President in equity and derivatives trading based in London, where he focused on European execution and derivatives market dynamics. His experience at BlackRock also included roles in portfolio finance, where he supported financing and balance sheet-related trading within the firm's broader markets platform. Before joining BlackRock, he held positions at Citigroup in Markets Treasury and began his career at PwC in asset management advisory roles. He holds a CFA charter and CPA credential, underscoring technical expertise across trading and financial analysis.
The hire is part of a broader talent acquisition initiative at Balyasny, a multi-strategy investment firm with established platforms in global equities, macro, credit, and quantitative trading. Recent additions to the firm's leadership include Paul Battams from BlackRock as global head of equity trading, Jamie Mansell from Deutsche Bank to lead its macro business, and Dara Falahi from Capstone Investment Advisors. This succession of senior-level appointments reflects intensifying competition for specialized trading talent across hedge funds and systematic investing platforms, as firms seek to strengthen execution capabilities and expand their competitive reach across asset classes and geographies.
DiSpirito's career trajectory reflects deep specialization in global equities and derivatives markets. Prior to his director role at BlackRock, he spent more than six years as Vice President in equity and derivatives trading based in London, where he focused on European execution and derivatives market dynamics. His experience at BlackRock also included roles in portfolio finance, where he supported financing and balance sheet-related trading within the firm's broader markets platform. Before joining BlackRock, he held positions at Citigroup in Markets Treasury and began his career at PwC in asset management advisory roles. He holds a CFA charter and CPA credential, underscoring technical expertise across trading and financial analysis.
The hire is part of a broader talent acquisition initiative at Balyasny, a multi-strategy investment firm with established platforms in global equities, macro, credit, and quantitative trading. Recent additions to the firm's leadership include Paul Battams from BlackRock as global head of equity trading, Jamie Mansell from Deutsche Bank to lead its macro business, and Dara Falahi from Capstone Investment Advisors. This succession of senior-level appointments reflects intensifying competition for specialized trading talent across hedge funds and systematic investing platforms, as firms seek to strengthen execution capabilities and expand their competitive reach across asset classes and geographies.
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