Alan Boaz Djanogly
The quiet man who rose to high office in the guarded world of hedge funds
DESCRIBED AS a pioneer of the global hedge fund industry and a quiet but significant donor to Jewish communal interests, Alan Boaz Djanogly, who has died of cancer, aged 56, was much admired and respected both within the industry and among friends, who praised his influence and support.
Alan Djanogly co-founded International Asset Management Ltd in 1989. He was a member of IAM’s Investment Committee, sitting on its Board of Directors. In April, 2014 he became its Chief Executive Officer and Director.
For over 28 years, Alan directed all investment and IT development, backed by over 31 years of investment management and hedge fund industry experience. Prior to IAM, Alan was at Drexel Burnham Lambert, joining from Robert Fleming Investment Management. He graduated with a BSc in Information Technology from London Metropolitan University.
The son of Michael and Alma Djanogly, he grew up in Cricklewood and Hampstead with his siblings, Daniel, Adam and Gilli, and was educated at North West London Jewish Day School, followed by City of London School. He gained a BSc in Information Technology from London Metropolitan University (formerly City of London Polytechnic) and lived for over 20 years in Belgravia, where he was a member of Western Marble Arch Synagogue.
He originally started working in IT systems design, and according to his CV, between July 1984 and March, 1985, while still a trainee sales executive, he was asked to design a computer system for Margaret Thatcher in her Finchley constituency. He described it as the first such system developed in the UK as a political tool, and he aroused great interest in the Conservative party to sell the system. Extensive national PR work followed in Tory constituency offices and at Central Office.
As IAM’s head of investments, he told The Financial Times in 2004 that the key to success in the guarded world of hedge funds was to recruit the right manager.” Contacts are what count,” he said. Being on first name terms carried significant advantages.
In 2002 the London School of Economics and Political Science established a hedge fund research programme jointly with IAM. The company had agreed to fund the LSE’s Financial Markets Group for an initial period of three years by sponsoring a fellowship in hedge fund management.
Alan said at the time: “We recognise that hedge fund management is relatively under-researched due to the rapid growth of the industry --- we are keen to participate in the furthering of high quality academic research.”
Alan was also involved in charitable work for such bodies as Chabad, andwas a serious collector of contemporary art. Many friends, colleagues and acquaintances paid tribute to his active and constructive help when they needed it in their personal and work lives.
In addition to his immense professional achievements, Alan was known for his great strength of character, friendship, charm, big heartedness, humour and his deep love for his family, the Jewish community and Israel. He bravely fought a very hard battle over some three years with brain cancer.
Alan, who was unmarried, is survived by his mother Alma, his siblings, niece and nephews. His father pre-deceased him in 1989.
Alan Djanogly; born August 25, 1962. Died October 27, 2018.