Key Takeaways
- • Kieran Cavanna, former head of external investments at George Soros's family office, launched Old Farm Partners on June 1, 2016, with approximately $65 million in assets under management.
- • Old Farm Partners is structured as a fund of hedge funds with a strategic focus on equities and macroeconomic trends, positioning it within the multi-strategy hedge fund space.
- • The founding team includes three experienced investment professionals: Cavanna (Chief Investment Officer), Nishi Shah (former Soros Fund Management analyst with nearly nine years of tenure leading research), and Barry Purcell (former Blue Pool Capital partner serving as President and Chief Operating Officer).
- • The venture represents a notable departure from Soros Fund Management, occurring as the broader Soros organization undergoes leadership transitions, including reported control shifts within the family office structure.
Summary
Kieran Cavanna, who previously managed external investment allocations for George Soros's family office until 2015, has established Old Farm Partners, a newly launched fund of hedge funds. According to Bloomberg, the firm commenced operations on June 1, 2016, with approximately $65 million under management.
Old Farm Partners will concentrate its investment strategy on two core areas: equities and macroeconomic trends. This positioning aligns the fund with multi-strategy hedge fund managers that blend security selection with macro thematic analysis, a approach that reflects the analytical foundation built during Cavanna's tenure at Soros Fund Management.
The management team comprises three principals with substantial pedigree in institutional asset management. Cavanna serves as Chief Investment Officer and founder. Nishi Shah, who spent nearly nine years as an analyst at Soros Fund Management, leads the research function at Old Farm Partners. Barry Purcell, a former partner at Blue Pool Capital—the Hong Kong-based investment firm—assumes the role of President and Chief Operating Officer, bringing operational and strategic experience from the alternative asset management sector.
The launch occurs during a period of significant organizational changes within the Soros ecosystem, as reported across financial media outlets covering the family office and investment management landscape. The establishment of Old Farm Partners adds to a growing cohort of seasoned investment professionals launching independent vehicles after tenure at premier institutional platforms, reflecting both the talent concentration at legacy family offices and the continued viability of the fund of funds model for experienced practitioners with institutional networks and analytical capabilities.
Old Farm Partners will concentrate its investment strategy on two core areas: equities and macroeconomic trends. This positioning aligns the fund with multi-strategy hedge fund managers that blend security selection with macro thematic analysis, a approach that reflects the analytical foundation built during Cavanna's tenure at Soros Fund Management.
The management team comprises three principals with substantial pedigree in institutional asset management. Cavanna serves as Chief Investment Officer and founder. Nishi Shah, who spent nearly nine years as an analyst at Soros Fund Management, leads the research function at Old Farm Partners. Barry Purcell, a former partner at Blue Pool Capital—the Hong Kong-based investment firm—assumes the role of President and Chief Operating Officer, bringing operational and strategic experience from the alternative asset management sector.
The launch occurs during a period of significant organizational changes within the Soros ecosystem, as reported across financial media outlets covering the family office and investment management landscape. The establishment of Old Farm Partners adds to a growing cohort of seasoned investment professionals launching independent vehicles after tenure at premier institutional platforms, reflecting both the talent concentration at legacy family offices and the continued viability of the fund of funds model for experienced practitioners with institutional networks and analytical capabilities.
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