VGI founder Robert Luciano quits Regal

Investment veteran Robert Luciano has resigned from Regal Partners following a six-month sabbatical.

Luciano stepped down as a portfolio manager at a company that came about through the recent merger of Regal Funds Management and the company Luciano co-founded 15 years ago, VGI Partners.

While he was away,  VGI portfolio managers Marco Anselmi and Simon Birrell ran the global long/short equity portfolios, reporting to Regal's co-founder and chief investment officer Phil King.

Regal said Anselmi and Birrell will remain in their current roles.

Regal Partners chief executive Brendan O'Connor thanked Luciano for his hard work and commitment over the years.

"The combination of Regal Funds Management and VGI Partners Limited in June 2022 has provided a substantial foundation from which the business has continued to grow, with funds under management due to shortly surpass $10 billion," O'Connor said in an ASX release.

"We recognise Rob's instrumental contribution as founder of the VGI Partners business, and we wish him every success in the future."

Luciano - who still owns 16 per cent of Regal Partners worth about $90 million - said he is proud of the business he founded and is highly confident in the ability of the team to remain a careful steward of its clients.

"Phil, Brendan and the entire team are of exceptional quality and I look forward to watching the continued evolution and growth of the broader Regal Partners group over the coming years," he said.

The alternatives asset manager last week confirmed that high-profile stockbroker Charlie Aitken is joining its sales team as investment director.

Aitken joins from Bell Financial where he returned a year ago after his former fund management business - Aitken Investment Management - was sold in a management buyout.