Key Takeaways
- • Alex Jenkins, head of trading at Polar Capital for three and a half years, has departed to join multi-strategy hedge fund Millennium Management later in 2023, marking a significant talent shift between boutique and larger-scale hedge fund operators.
- • Jenkins' new role at Millennium is not a trading position, suggesting a lateral or elevated move into a different functional area within the $36 billion hedge fund.
- • Jenkins brings substantial market credibility to Millennium, having won Trader of the Year (hedge fund) at Leaders in Trading 2021 and previously held the position of head of European trading at Highbridge Capital Management for five years.
- • The departure underscores ongoing competitive talent recruitment among hedge funds, with Millennium—run by Israel Englander—continuing to attract senior trading and portfolio management talent from rival firms.
- • Jenkins' career trajectory reflects progression through established financial institutions, including prior roles at Cantor Fitzgerald and Virtu Financial in equity sales trading before joining Polar Capital in 2019.
Summary
Alex Jenkins, head of trading at boutique hedge fund Polar Capital, has departed the firm to join Millennium Management later in 2023. Jenkins held the position for three and a half years, having joined Polar Capital in 2019 directly from Highbridge Capital Management, where she served as head of European trading for five years.
The nature of Jenkins' role at Millennium remains unconfirmed, though The TRADE understands it will not be a trading position. This departure signals either a lateral move into a different business function or a potential promotion within Millennium's organizational structure. While Millennium declined to comment on the appointment, Polar Capital confirmed Jenkins' departure, validating the move.
Jenkins carries substantial industry credentials to her new employer. She was recognized as Trader of the Year (hedge fund) at Leaders in Trading 2021 and previously earned recognition as a Rising Star of Trading and Execution in 2019. Her pre-Polar Capital experience includes equity sales trading roles at Cantor Fitzgerald and Virtu Financial, establishing a track record across both buy-side and liquidity provision roles.
The move reflects Millennium's ongoing strategy to recruit senior talent from competing hedge funds. The $36 billion multi-strategy firm, led by Israel Englander, has consistently pursued talent acquisition from established competitors, adding further institutional depth to its operational and portfolio management bench.
The nature of Jenkins' role at Millennium remains unconfirmed, though The TRADE understands it will not be a trading position. This departure signals either a lateral move into a different business function or a potential promotion within Millennium's organizational structure. While Millennium declined to comment on the appointment, Polar Capital confirmed Jenkins' departure, validating the move.
Jenkins carries substantial industry credentials to her new employer. She was recognized as Trader of the Year (hedge fund) at Leaders in Trading 2021 and previously earned recognition as a Rising Star of Trading and Execution in 2019. Her pre-Polar Capital experience includes equity sales trading roles at Cantor Fitzgerald and Virtu Financial, establishing a track record across both buy-side and liquidity provision roles.
The move reflects Millennium's ongoing strategy to recruit senior talent from competing hedge funds. The $36 billion multi-strategy firm, led by Israel Englander, has consistently pursued talent acquisition from established competitors, adding further institutional depth to its operational and portfolio management bench.
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