UBS O'Connor LLC, the multi-strategy hedge fund manager within UBS Asset Management, announced February 26 that it has hired Ken Geren as a managing director and chief investment officer of the firm's newly formed, absolute return strategy which will incorporate the impact of environmental issues into its investment process.

Geren is joined by Gary Lisiewski, managing director with responsibility for trading and capital markets, and a team of investment professionals focusing on the implications of climate change on companies directly impacted by the transition to a more sustainable, decarbonized global economy.

Geren joined from Point72, where he was a portfolio manager focusing on investments in the energy sector and related industries. O’Connor will invest in the strategy by facilitating external capital sources.

"Ken's experience, market knowledge and leadership allow us to bring deep investment and research capabilities to the firm, and enables us to establish an investment strategy that directly incorporates the impact of climate change on a wide range companies that comprise the Energy Economy," said Kevin Russell, chief investment officer of O'Connor.

O'Connor has US$5.1 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2019.