The TRADE 50 | Page 49

[ I N - D E P T H | P E O P L E M O V E S ] Last year has seen a tidal wave of departures in the industry, The TRADE looks at why there have been so many changes at the top. T here can be little doubt that 2016 has been a tumultuous year, not only in the wider world with the UK’s Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s surprise presi- dential election win, but also in the world of asset management, which has seen a swathe of senior departures. The TRADE has counted no fewer than 20 buy-side heads of desk or senior traders at big name firms leaving their jobs this year. The scale of the power vacuum at the top of the industry is unprecedented. However, we believe there are many more departures among the smaller asset managers as well that we simply don’t yet know about. But what could be the cause of the huge talent exodus? The TRADE has been looking into this issue and readers will not be sur- prised to hear that regulation and technolo- gy are likely factors. Winter 2016 TheTrade 49