Northern Trust Asset Management Expands Global Quantitative Investment Strategies Team to Drive Innovation and Growth
Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM), one of the world’s leading global investment management firms with assets totaling US$1.3 trillion as of December 31, 2024, has announced a significant expansion of its global quantitative investment strategies team. This move will further strengthen NTAM’s position in the rapidly evolving world of quantitative investing, enhance its existing quantitative factor platform, and accelerate the development of innovative and diversifying strategies.
As part of this expansion, NTAM has hired 13 new investment professionals, including quantitative researchers, portfolio analysts, and quantitative developers, all based in Amsterdam. These new hires will bring their extensive expertise to NTAM’s quantitative strategies team, which is led by Mark Sodergren, the firm’s Global Head of Quantitative Strategies, and Guido Baltussen, the Head of Quantitative Strategies, International.
This strategic recruitment is a critical part of NTAM’s broader mission to continue evolving its quantitative investing capabilities, positioning the firm for long-term success in a dynamic investment landscape. The new team members bring with them a wealth of experience, having honed their skills in applying advanced quantitative techniques, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, and alternative data sets, to uncover signals that drive sustainable investing outcomes and maximize long-term shareholder value.
The 13 new hires will join NTAM’s quantitative investment strategies team in February 2025, further reinforcing the firm’s commitment to the ongoing growth of its global team and its quest for excellence in the quantitative investment space.
Key New Hires and Their Expertise
The newly hired professionals represent a blend of diverse skills and backgrounds that will complement and enhance NTAM’s quantitative research and investment strategies. Some of the key new hires include:
- Maarten Smit, CFA – As a Senior Portfolio Analyst, Smit brings a wealth of experience in leading quantitative equity strategies across developed and emerging markets. Prior to joining NTAM, he served as lead portfolio manager at APG Asset Management, where he oversaw quantitative equity strategies across global markets.
- Tim Zwinkels, CFA – Zwinkels joins NTAM as a Senior Quantitative Researcher. Previously, he was a senior researcher in the quantitative equity research team at APG Asset Management, where he contributed to the development of sophisticated quantitative models and strategies.
- Edmund Wadge, PhD – Wadge comes on board as a Senior Quantitative Researcher with deep expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning. He previously worked as a quantitative developer at APG Asset Management and holds a PhD in Artificial Neural Networks from the University of Westminster.
- Gijsbert de Lange – de Lange joins NTAM as an Investment Solutions Expert. Before this, he was responsible for overseeing quantitative equity investment strategies across both developed and emerging markets at APG Asset Management.
These talented individuals will play a pivotal role in Northern Trust Asset Management’s efforts to strengthen its quantitative strategies and further integrate innovative approaches into the firm’s investment philosophy. Their collective expertise in advanced data analytics, machine learning, and AI-driven investment techniques is expected to enhance NTAM’s ability to identify new and emerging sources of alpha, driving positive outcomes for clients across the globe.
NTAM’s Commitment to Innovation and Growth
For more than three decades, NTAM has been at the forefront of the quantitative investment strategies space. The firm’s pioneering work in this area has helped shape the industry’s understanding and application of quantitative techniques in asset management. With this latest expansion, Northern Trust Asset Management is building on its legacy of innovation and success, further reinforcing its commitment to delivering outstanding investment solutions for its clients.
NTAM Global Chief Investment Officer Angelo Manioudakis expressed his enthusiasm for the new hires, stating, “For more than 30 years, NTAM has been a pioneer in quantitative investment strategies. Today, we are building on our quantitative capabilities by welcoming talented new researchers, analysts, and developers to our global team. I am confident that NTAM’s expanded quantitative investment strategies team will continue to deliver impactful investment solutions to clients across the globe.”
This latest expansion is part of Northern Trust Asset Management’s broader strategy to ensure its quantitative team is equipped to meet the evolving demands of the investment landscape. By integrating emerging technologies like machine learning, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analytics into its strategies, Northern Trust Asset Management is better positioned to navigate the complexities of the global financial markets and deliver superior performance for its clients.
Michael Hunstad, NTAM’s Deputy Chief Investment Officer and CIO of Global Equities, also commented on the expansion, emphasizing the importance of this investment in the firm’s quantitative capabilities. “NTAM is marking an important investment in our quantitative capabilities. The growing team has an aligned investment philosophy and complementary expertise to NTAM’s existing investment platform, which will help to drive innovative new strategies, solutions, and technologies for our clients.”
Strengthening Quantitative Investment Strategies
NTAM has a long track record of success in managing quantitative investment strategies across various asset classes, including equities and fixed income. As of December 31, 2024, the firm manages US$43 billion in quantitative strategies, underscoring the firm’s strong presence and expertise in this area.
This expansion of NTAM’s global quantitative team comes at a time when the firm is increasingly focused on delivering innovative solutions to clients, enabling them to navigate the challenges and opportunities of an ever-changing global investment environment. By expanding its team and increasing its capabilities in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and alternative data, NTAM is positioning itself to lead the next wave of innovation in the asset management industry.
The firm’s existing quantitative factor platform will be significantly enhanced by the addition of these new hires, who bring cutting-edge expertise in areas such as alternative data analysis, sustainable investing, and machine learning applications. These advancements are expected to help NTAM identify new investment signals, develop more effective risk management strategies, and ultimately deliver stronger returns for clients.
Recent Additions to NTAM’s Quantitative Capabilities
This latest round of hiring follows several other important strategic additions to NTAM’s global quantitative team. These hires include the appointment of Guido Baltussen, PhD, as Head of Quantitative Strategies, International in November 2023; Milan Vidojevic as Director of Quantitative Solutions, International in January 2024; and Jan Rohof as Director of Quantitative Solutions, Asia Pacific in November 2024. Together, these additions demonstrate NTAM’s commitment to growing its quantitative capabilities and strengthening its global investment platform.
With the combined experience of the new hires and leadership team members, NTAM is well-positioned to continue developing innovative investment strategies that leverage the latest advancements in technology and data analysis. The firm’s quantitative platform is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of its investment approach, offering clients the ability to access sophisticated, data-driven strategies that can deliver consistent and superior performance.
