Scott Rafferty, Citadel's head of investor relations, says he plans to leave the firm at the end of the year.
Mr. Rafferty has worked for the Chicago hedge fund firm since 1997, making him a veteran at the business that was started by CEO Ken Griffin in 1990.
“The firm has never been stronger. It just seemed like the right time,” Mr. Rafferty said of his planned departure.
Mr. Rafferty will be replaced by Edward O'Reilly, who joined the firm earlier this year, though the post is being renamed global head of the client and partner group.
Mr. Rafferty lasted a long time at a firm that has at times been perceived as a place that churns through executives and fund managers due to Mr. Griffin's high demands. “He is demanding, but he's the kind of leader you always want to work for because great things will happen,” Mr. Rafferty said of Mr. Griffin.
It's not clear whether Mr. Rafferty will retire completely, but he's likely to be subject to a non-compete agreement that bars him from working in the industry for a period of time after he leaves. “I think there's something I can do. I just don't know what that is yet,” said Mr. Rafferty, who plans to stay in Chicago.
His job entailed keeping clients up to date and winning over new investors, with lots of globetrotting, especially as Citadel's client base extended from high-net-worth investors to pension funds, endowments and sovereign wealth funds in other countries.
