EUROPE – Hedge fund firm Refco Alternative Investments has boosted its European hedge fund sales push with the appointment of a senior European sales executive.

New York-based Refco said Jan de Smedt has joined as vice president of senior European sales in London.

It said de Smedt would “oversee the distribution of alternative investment products both directly, with European institutional investors, and through the continued development and expansion of strategic alliances with selected distribution partners in Europe”.

He was most recently a director at hedge group Liability Solutions.

“We are delighted to welcome Jan to RAI’s expanding team,” said Pierre Maliczak, head of Europe. “His sales expertise and language skills create a winning combination, and we are confident that he will be an integral part of our European growth strategy.”

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