New York headhunter adds Asia hedge-fund recruiter

Glocap Search, a New York-based executive-search firm, has hired Asia hand Rick Johannessen as senior vice-president in a bid to extend its work in the alternative asset-management industry across the Pacific.

Johannessen has lived in Hong Kong since 1996 and spent the past seven years running searches in the Asian hedge-fund and private-equity industries. He co-founded the Hong Kong boutique Brasch Partners and, according to the company website, also was partner at AuxoGlobal, a search firm specialising in the venture-capital industry. Prior to helping found Brasch, he ran corporate finance and private equity at Henderson Baillieu as well as served as recruiting partner at Techpacific Capital, a VC firm. He got his start in Asia as a currency trader and is proficient in Mandarin and Japanese.

He now reports to Brian Korb, partner in New York, who says the new position will allow the firm to enhance its services to clients that are increasingly focusing on Asia. He says Glocap can now access candidates with Asia investment capabilities for global hedge funds, funds of hedge funds, private-equity firms, distressed investors and real estate investors.

There is also a supply of professionals now in the United States of Asian origin or with previous Asia experience that are looking to return to the region, says Johannessen, who will initially be based in New York but will split his time in Hong Kong.

Glocap has offices in London as well as other cities in the US.