Firetrail beefs up investment team

Pinnacle boutique Firetrail has brought in two new equity analysts to hunt for alpha opportunities.

First up, Dean Fremder has jumped from Barrenjoey Capital.

Reporting to portfolio manager Ramoun Lazar, Fremder will be seeking excess returns across all of Firetrail's equity funds but primarily from the absolute return fund.

At Barrenjoey Capital, he was head of emerging companies ECM and private capital.

He was snapped up by Barrenjoey three years ago from Perpetual, where he worked for 18 months.

Initially, Fremder joined Perpetual in mid-2019 from UBS, where he had spent more than 11 years, including eight as director of equities.

He has experience in hedge funds, small and mid-cap, and institutional sales.

Firetrail investment director Patrick Hodgens said his knowledge of both the buy and sell side of equity markets is a rare combination, and his unique perspective on companies makes him a good fit for the business.

"We believe Dean will be a key contributor to the Firetrail team, helping to generate outstanding performance from both long and short ideas in the months and years ahead.

Fremder said Firetrail's high conviction and concentrated investing philosophy resonate with active investors.

"I look forward to hunting the Australian and Global equity markets for the very best alpha opportunities for Firetrail's clients."

Meantime , Matthew Thomson will be responsible for uncovering high alpha generating ideas in the Australian equity market for the Firetrail Australian High Conviction Fund.

Thomson joins from Peregrine Capital, South Africa's longest running hedge fund manager.

As a portfolio manager there, Thomson was responsible for investment analysis and portfolio management for Peregrine's hedge fund mandates.

Hodgens, noted the recruit has firmly established himself as an exceptional analyst and portfolio manager, gaining valuable experience in a range of sectors and markets through varying market cycles.

Firetail also confirms that equity analyst Sean Drennan will be leaving Firetrail in early 2024 to pursue an offshore opportunity.

"Sean has made a great contribution to the team over the past three years, and we understand that the move to New York was a tough decision for him. He leaves with our very best wishes."