HANetf, the independent white-label provider launched this year by ETF industry veterans Hector McNeil and Nik Bienkowski, has announced two new senior hires as it looks to bolster its executive team as the firm heads in the new year.
The company has announced that Samir Patel has joined as general counsel and Ignatius Faissal takes on the post of director of product management.
Patel brings more than 20 years' legal and compliance experience in the investment fund sector, most recently at Alliance Bernstein. Prior to that, he worked for State Street Global Advisers, Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, Janus Capital and AXA Investment Managers.
Patel will support HANetf's continued development and growth, providing product, legal and regulatory advice to the company and its clients.
Faissal worked with McNeil and Bienkowski at ETF issuer WisdomTree following the merger with the duo's second venture Boost ETP and has more than 15 years' financial product development experience.
He began his career at Man Group, before moving to Credit Suisse Asset Management and later Aviva Investors. He will report to Bienkowski, leveraging his experience in building and developing UCITS ETF platforms.
Bienkowski said the hires were "extremely timely" with the business fielding increasing enquiries from potential clients recognising they need an ETF solution.
"In total, HANetf's management team now has 100 years' of investment fund experience, across every product type and asset class."
Bienkowski and McNeil launched the business late last summer in the hope of taking advantage of what the company sees as the likely growth in smart beta and pure active ETF activity.
In November the company announced it had seen an over-subscription to its seed funding round.
Patel said he shared the company's belief that most asset managers need an ETF strategy. "I am excited to join a business ideally placed to facilitate their entry into a market enjoying exponential growth."
