Hedge funds and bank trading desks are hiring again and have already snapped up some of the most talented managers who were dislodged while firms struggled in the credit crisis, industry insiders said. Hedge funds endured a tough 2008 in which nearly 1,500 portfolios closed, according to Hedge Fund Research, as performance slumped and clients pulled out cash.
However, as returns have improved and redemptions slowed, some funds have grown confident enough about attractive investment opportunities to take on staff — particularly marketing executives to help lure back assets, operations staff and fund managers expert in popular strategies.