Bill James was named chief of the Florida State Board of Administration's new alternatives asset class, said Tom Herndon, executive director. Mr. James now serves as operations chief at the Tallahassee-based board, and the $93 billion fund has started a search for his replacement. The system's private equity program will be folded into the alternatives program and Frank Fernandez, who has been running the private equity program, will become a senior staff member in the alternatives unit.
Also, Carl Lawrence left his position as director of risk management at the Florida board. He returned to Florida State University to finish his Ph.D.
The board is interviewing candidates for the job.
Giles Weaver was appointed executive chairman at Murray Johnstone Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland. He is replacing non-executive Chairman Nick McAndrew, who is due to retire at the end of this year.
Mr. Weaver is managing director for the firm, an affiliate of United Asset Management that has 3.9 billion ($6.2 billion) under management. He will be replaced as managing director by David MacLellan, deputy managing director.
The money manager does not intend to appoint a deputy managing director "for the time being," said Mr. MacLellan.
Northern Trust Global Investments appointed Guy Williams as head of global fixed income in London and Nicholas Ring as head of product development for Europe and Asia.
Mr. Williams joins the group from Paribas Asset Management Ltd., London, where he was a global fixed-income manager for institutional and mutual funds. He is being replaced, said a Paribas spokesman.
Mr. Ring previously worked for KPMG Consulting, London, where he was an executive consultant on the investment management consulting team.
Wendy L. Nickerson was hired by Weiss Peck & Greer, New York, as senior vice president and senior credit analyst, focusing on high-yield credits, expanding the company's fixed-income department. She had been a director and investment analyst at UBS Brinson, where she worked with Kevin McCormick, who also recently joined Weiss Peck & Greer as head of high yield.
UBS Brinson is seeking a replacement for Ms. Nickerson, said spokesman Carl Gargula.
Eoin Murray was appointed senior portfolio manager at First Quadrant in London where he will be responsible for the firm's equity and asset allocation products and business development in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Murray previously was a senior portfolio manager for PanAgora Asset Management Ltd., London, with responsibilities in asset allocation, according to a company spokes- woman. He left PanAgora late last year.
Mark Geist was named chief executive officer of Montgomery Asset Management, San Francisco, succeeding founder R. Stephen Doyle. Mr. Doyle remains as chairman.
In addition, Scott Tuck, formerly chief marketing officer, has been named president, taking over one of Mr. Geist's former roles. His other role as chief operating officer has been filled by David Demarest, who previously served as chief administrative officer.
