Callan Associates is establishing a new alternative investment group, said Gregory C. Allen, executive vice president and director of research. He stressed that Callan has long provided alternative investment advice to institutional clients in private equity, real estate and hedge fund of funds, but increased demand has led the consulting firm to concentrate resources within a single group.
Sue Crotty, senior vice president, will be the group's spokeswoman, representing a group of nine or 10 specialist consultants, he said. Gary Robertson, senior vice president and head of private equity research, and Jim McKee, vice president and director within the hedge fund research group, are among the senior staffers moving into the alternatives unit, said Mr. Allen.
Callan is also stepping up its hedge fund manager research, reviewing about 125 "institutionally viable" funds in order to meet client demand for direct investment, said Mr. Allen. Once the new alternative investment group is fully operational, Callan may add another researcher to support the direct hedge fund investment program.
