Arup K. Datta has joined quantitative domestic equity firm Aronson Johnson Ortiz as a partner and chief investment officer, international, in Boston to lead the development and launch of international, global and emerging markets equity strategies for Philadelphia-based AJO, according to managing principal and partner Theodore R. Aronson.
Both the position and the Boston office are new.
In addition, James S. Lobb, a former partner with the firm, has returned after 16 years as a partner, in charge of sales and client service for both AJO's existing domestic equity strategies and its coming non-U.S. strategies, Mr. Lobb said in a telephone interview.
Mr. Datta comes to AJO from Agriya Investors, a quantitative equity firm he launched in March after leaving his post as director of portfolio management with Numeric Investors.
Mr. Lobb said AJO, which had mulled broadening its domestic equity-focused lineup over the past decade, persuaded Mr. Datta and his team — Horace E. Henderson, William T. MacLellan, Nicholas Tham and Franz G. Valencia — to open a Boston office for AJO. Messrs. Henderson, MacLellan, Tham and Valencia join AJO as associates. All positions are new ones at the firm.
In a telephone interview, Mr. Datta said Agriya Investors has been closed.
David Stewart, Numeric's director of business development and client service, said the director of portfolio management position hasn't been filled; Robert E. Furdak, the firm's chief investment officer, assumed those responsibilities.
Joseph Schirripa, a director and portfolio manager who worked with Mr. Datta managing Numeric's large-cap U.S. equity strategies, has assumed the lead on large-cap, while Jay Rajamony, a portfolio manager and member of the research team, has assumed lead responsibility from Mr. Datta on the firm's small-cap U.S. strategies, Mr. Stewart said.
Mr. Lobb, meanwhile, comes back to AJO from Philadelphia International Advisors, where he served as a partner and managing director, and head of the firm's sales and client service.
Andrew B. Williams, president of Philadelphia International Advisors, couldn't immediately be reached for comment.