Northern Trust names new senior quants

US-based global asset management firm Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM) has poached two senior quants from rival Robeco, with Milan Vidojevic to serve as director of quantitative solutions, international.

Welcoming the firm’s latest senior hire, Michael Hunstad, NTAM’s deputy chief investment officer (CIO) and CIO of global equities recognised Vidojevic’s “deep experience in factor investing and developing quantitative solutions for sophisticated institutional clients.”

He added: “Milan will drive forward our global quantitative hub by supporting existing clients and developing strategic relationships with prospective partners.”

The appointment of Vidojevic, who made the move to NTAM late last year, is part of a series of new hires by the firm to boost its global quantitative strategies footprint.

Vidojevic was most recently client portfolio manager and senior quantitative researcher at Robeco, where he served a total of eight years.

Additionally, Bart van Vliet, a fellow Robeco alumnus, has joined NTAM’s Amsterdam office as quantitative solutions associate, international.

van Vliet served a total of four years at the Rotterdam-headquartered Robeco, most recently as the firm’s client portfolio manager for quantitative equity strategies.

Both Vidojevic and van Vliet will report to the recently appointed Guido Baltussen, NTAM’s head of quantitative strategies, international.

NTAM, based in Chicago, is among the world’s largest global investment management firms, with $1.18 trillion in assets under management.