About Us
Global Systematic Markets Practice.
The Omerta Group’s Systematic Markets Practice specialises in retained executive search for quantitative and data driven talent within High Frequency Principal Trading Firms, Systematic Hedge Funds, Asset Managers and Investment Banks.
The aim of the practice is forensic and discreet headhunting for our select portfolio of clients. Through this, we have developed an unrivalled network and depth of knowledge across alpha research, technology driven liquidity provision, derivatives pricing and market microstructure.
High Frequency Trading.
Portfolio Managers | Quantitative Researchers | Software & Infrastructure Developers
Systematic Portfolio Management.
Statistical Arbitrage, Quantitative Macro, Systematic Volatility, Index Arb, CTA
Derivatives Pricing.
Quantitative Researchers & Developers
Systematic Market Making & Agency Execution.
Quantitative Traders | Quantitative Researchers & Developers | Execution Consulting
Cryptocurrencies & DLT.
Portfolio Managers | Quantitative Researchers & Developers
Our Reach
Coverage.
Our Track Record
Recent Completed Assignments.
Head of Options Market Making.
Proprietary Trading Firm | Chicago
Head of European Equity Stat Arb Portfolio Management.
Proprietary Trading Firm | London
High Frequency Futures Trading Portfolio Manager.
Proprietary Trading Firm | London
Systematic Macro Quantitative Researcher.
Fixed Income Hedge Fund | London
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Equity Stat Arb Quantitative Researcher.
Systematic Hedge Fund | New York
Head of Systematic Crypto Trading.
Cryptocurrency Exchange | Hong Kong
Global Head of Algorithmic Credit Trading.
Global Investment Bank | London
Head of US Treasuries Electronic Trading.
Global Investment Bank | New York
Global Head of Cash Equities Execution.
Global Investment Bank | London
Head of Equity Derivatives Quantitative Research.
US Investment Bank | London
Cryptocurrency Portfolio Manager.
Multi Strategy Hedge Fund | London
Reinforcement Learning Quantitative Researcher.
Global Investment Bank | London
Our People
Practice Team.
TOP
Jim Brownwood
Head of Global Systematic Markets & Digital Assets Practice. Global Co-Head of Liquid Markets.
Jim specialises in placing senior PMs and quant traders into the firm’s retained buyside clients.
He is the Head of the Global Systematic Markets practice (GSM) which he founded in 2016 following 12 years in trading executive search. GSM focusses on discreet and precise executive search across a range of quantitative and technical fields with a core focus on high frequency and mid frequency quantitative portfolio managers, traders, quantitative strategists, and quantitative developers. This is across traditional markets such as equities, futures, options, and bonds, as well as centralised cryptocurrency cash and derivatives trading and decentralised finance.
Jim also co-runs the firms Liquid Market Practice which is responsible for the TOG’s front office hiring for both quantitative and discretionary sales and trading. He is also a member of the firm’s executive committee.
Michael Stover
Michael is Head of Americas, leading The Omerta Group’s regional client relationships, strategic development and senior search mandates across Global Markets, Global Systematic Markets, Investment Banking and Asset Management, based in New York.
Michael has had significant global front-office recruiting experience, with his career spanning 20 years working at a strategic level as a talent acquisition leader in the U.S., EMEA and Asia markets. His coverage has included; Global Securities (Equities, Fixed Income & Research), Capital Markets, Investment Banking, Asset Management, International Banking, Transaction Banking, Wealth Management and Shared Services senior recruitment.
Prior to joining Omerta, Michael was a Managing Director at a boutique executive search firm focused on the global financial services industry, where he was responsible for the origination of new business development and execution of searches across global markets and asset management.
Michael’s career has also included senior talent acquisition roles at Citadel, UBS, Credit Suisse, Standard Chartered Bank and Wachovia/Wells Fargo.
Jon Friedman
Jon, based in the New York office, is part of the firm’s Global Asset Management leadership team, focused on identifying, assessing and hiring senior talent across both, traditional and alternative asset managers. His core expertise stretches across senior leaders, portfolio managers, research analysts, sales & distribution, IR, quantitative professionals and risk managers.
Jon has established and managed relationships with buy side firms for over 20 years, including extensive experience with fundamental credit and equities; event-driven, special situations and distressed; emerging markets; structured corporate and mortgage credit; macro; and quantitative strategies. Jon has also run and executed numerous sell side searches, primarily in corresponding asset classes/markets.
In addition to establishing and building the asset management practice at two previous search firms he worked with, Jon has been part of the senior leadership teams, helping to set and execute firm and/or team strategy, including hiring, training and managing team members.
Prior to search Jon traded derivatives. He studied finance and Asia at the University of Pennsylvania.
Vithiya Vairon
Vithiya oversees the APAC Liquid Markets practice in Hong Kong.
Joining The Omerta Group in 2013, Vithiya has spent the past 10 years covering both buy and sell side clients and has successfully placed across portfolio management, trading, sales, analysts and quants for Asia.
Prior to The Omerta Group, Vithiya was part of the Scientific Department for the French Consulate where she was instrumental in bespoke institutional mandates predominantly for Hong Kong and China.
Vithiya holds a Master’s Degree in Physics from Ecole Centrale Paris.
Adam Hunter
Adam joined The Omerta Group in 2021 having spent over 10 years’ covering senior technology mandates across Investment Banking, Asset Management and Systematic Markets in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
He has a track record of delivering for clients across a wide range of roles within the Technology landscape, from c-suite leadership through to business heads and senior functional positions in the front office.
Adam graduated from Leeds University and has spent time working across Asia as well as New York.
Taylor Watson
Taylor joined The Omerta Group at the beginning of 2022 and works as a Senior Associate sitting in the Global Systematic Markets Practice based in London.
Prior to The Omerta Group, he worked at a Global contingent firm where he was responsible for servicing a global client base, focusing on those in the Digital Assets Markets.
Taylor read Industrial Economics and Insurance at the University of Nottingham.
David O’Brien
David joined The Omerta Group in Summer 2022 as a Senior Associate sitting in the Global Systematic Markets practice based in London.
David focusses on Quantitative Researchers, Quantitative Traders and Portfolio Managers for our buyside clients (predominantly in APAC).
Prior to the Omerta Group he worked at a boutique search firm focussing on Front Office hiring in both sell and buy side institutions.
David read Industrial/Organisational and Business Psychology at UCL and Experimental Psychology at the University of Bristol.
Hendrick Kroon
Hendrik rejoined The Omerta Group in January 2024 in the Global Systematic Markets practice based in London focussed on Quantitative Researchers.
Prior to rejoining, he worked at an international search firm covering C-level technology executives in financial services. He began his career recruiting qualified accountants for private markets.
Hendrik read Classics at Kings College London.
Jack Colquhoun
Jack is an Associate, focussed on Digital Assets whilst supporting the Global Markets and Investment Banking practice within The Omerta Group.
Prior to joining Omerta, Jack lead the development of the Blockchain practice within a global search firm based in New York. Providing extensive knowledge within the Blockchain, Crypto, and Digital Asset space within both Engineering, Security, and Trading.
Jack holds a Master of Science (Economics) from Southern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Bond University, Australia.
Gabriella Willingham
Gabriella joined the Omerta group in 2022, supporting the Quant and Investment professional team across Global Systematic Markets, Asset Management and Global Markets landscape.
Prior to joining, Gabriella worked as an Associate with a boutique search firm based in New Jersey. She partnered with quantitative funds, proprietary trading firms and tech start-ups across their algorithm development and technology roles.
Gabriella graduated summa cum laude in Economics from Middlebury College.
Odeta Galminaite
Odeta joined The Omerta Group in 2023 as an Associate in the Global Systematic Markets team, based in London.
Prior to The Omerta Group she worked in a boutique search and consulting firm focussing on advising international law firms on their global growth and strategy initiatives.
Odeta read Law at the University of Warwick.
Brian Murray
Brian joined The Omerta Group in Spring 2024 , where he is responsible for supporting our US-based Liquid Markets practice, with an emphasis on our quantitative & systematic client portfolio.
Prior to joining Omerta, Brian was a Consultant for a US-based tech recruitment firm, and most recently worked for a boutique quant-focused search firm out of New York City. He brings a strong background in hiring Quant Researchers, Quant/HFT Traders, and Quant Developers into hedge funds, prop trading firms, and wide range of asset managers.
Brian holds a BA in Economics from Bryant University.