Future Fund bolsters private markets team

Australia's sovereign wealth fund has promoted two of its private markets team to leadership roles as part of an overhaul following the departure of key investment staff.

James Waldron has been appointed head of credit, with Tammi Fisher taking on the role of head of alternatives.

Waldron will report to Ben Samild, the fund's deputy chief investment officer, portfolio construction, whereas Fisher will report to Alicia Gregory, deputy chief investment officer of private markets.

The revamp of the investment team follows the departure of Future Fund chief investment officer Sue Brake last month.

Her exit from the $200 billion sovereign wealth fund followed the resignation of David George, the deputy investment chief who is now Magellan Asset Management's new boss.

The revamp has also seen the departure of former CalPERS executive Craig Dandurand who had been with the fund for eight years as  head of debt.

Earlier, he spent 13 years at the US pension most recently as the portfolio manager of absolute returns.

The fund has also brought Hannah Too on board as a senior investment analyst, portfolio management.

She joins from Victoria Funds Management Corporation.

Future Fund chief executive Raphael Arndt said the repositioning of the investment team ensures the organisation has the right structure, people and processes to respond to the new investment order identified ain the organisation's recent investment strategy review.

"It is testament to the talent and capability of the investment team that we have been able to fill these two senior roles with internal appointments," he added.

"I am confident that Tammi and James will add great value to the Investment Team - and the Agency - in these leadership positions."

Waldron started with the organisation as an analyst, debt and alternatives in 2009, serving in several roles until his appointment as director of debt in 2019.

Before his 13 years with the sovereign wealth fund, he worked at Macquarie Group.

Meanwhile, Fisher joined the agency in February 2021 as a director of private equity.

Before that, she worked at a family office, Taemas Group, Babcock and Brown and Capital Group.

The fund has also brought Hannah Too on board as a senior investment analyst, portfolio management. She joins from Victoria Funds Management Corporation.