Stephens rebuilds with three fund management hires

Former equities broker Zak Allom, together with Tim Tucker and Andy Smith, have joined Stephens in London from recruitment firm Leader Financial Research.

Their arrival brings the number of Stephens' consultants to six.

Last year the firm lost eight staff in Hong Kong to rival Alexander Mann Global Markets (AMGM), while its New York office was bought out by headhunters there.

This year Fiona Stephens, the firm's founder, hired Simon Vaughan-Edwards from AMGM to be managing director in London. But he returned to AMGM while still on gardening leave.

Allom said: 'We intend to take advantage of niche areas of growth in the alternative investments industry, particularly fund of hedge funds, whilst continuing to develop Stephens' specialist focus on the traditional institutional and retail side."