DARIEN, Conn. Benjamin F. Phillips is joining Casey Quirk & Associates LLC in late August as the Darien-based money manager consultant's first partner focused entirely on research.
In an interview, founding partner Kevin P. Quirk called Mr. Phillips a notable addition for the firm, with experience over the past decade as managing director of strategic analysis with investment bank Jefferies Putnam Lovell, New York, and before that as a managing director at Cerulli Associates Inc., Boston tailored to Casey Quirk's strategic objectives.
The firm's five current partners have focused on the institutional segment of the money management world, but we continue to see ourselves doing more work in retail markets, defined contribution and internationally all places where Mr. Phillips has established a leading reputation in the industry, Mr. Quirk said.
Led by veteran John Casey and Mr. Quirk, Casey Quirk is already cited by many industry executives as a leading or the leading consultant to money management firms.
Amid growing competition, however, Mr. Quirk said his firm will face challenges maintaining an edge.
Over the past year or so, Casey Quirk's partners agreed that research thought leadership could no longer remain ancillary to the project work being done for clients. Uncovering critical themes in the market is not just a marketing tool but an essential part of what helps drive our organization forward, he said.
Mr. Casey said Mr. Phillips was the only candidate considered for the position the first partnership offered by the firm in seven years. He brings a more disciplined research background than anybody in our firm, which will help sharpen Casey Quirk's focus, Mr. Casey said.