NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--RealBlocks, an alternative investments platform that enables global distribution capabilities for fund managers, announces the appointment of Michael Hanus, CFA as the firm’s new Senior Managing Director of Distribution. Mr. Hanus joins RealBlocks with more than 30 years of experience working with leading asset management organizations such as Wellington and Fidelity. He has also worked with some of the world’s largest asset management firms as a management consultant, leading teams on core issues of strategy, retail and institutional distribution and the use of digital tools within their distribution and investment management organizations.
At RealBlocks, Mr. Hanus will focus on developing capabilities that allow Alternative Investment firms to distribute their funds through intermediary channels, including wirehouses, independent broker-dealers, bank trusts, and RIAs. These intermediaries will benefit from greater access to Alternative strategies, secondary trading, and improved liquidity and valuation of their private investments. Mr. Hanus will work closely with Scott Brooks, the firm’s Chief Operating Officer.
“We are thrilled to have Mike bring his deep industry and distribution knowledge and expertise to RealBlocks at a time of immense growth,” said RealBlocks CEO Perrin Quarshie. “Mike is an excellent addition to the RealBlocks team, having strong experience in the alternative investments space implementing new digital tools and strategies across distribution units. He will be instrumental in continuing to grow RealBlocks as we work towards our mission of increasing access and providing liquidity for investors and institutions in the alternative investment market.”
Prior to joining RealBlocks, Mr. Hanus worked in a number of roles at asset management firms, including Wellington Management Company where he helped start and then co-led the firm’s Defined Contribution business. Mr. Hanus was also SVP of Alternative Investments at Fidelity Investments, where he was responsible for the design, development and launch of Fidelity’s Long/Short strategies. Prior to Fidelity Investment, Mr. Hanus co-founded Absolute Investment Advisers, an alternative asset management firm which at its peak managed $4.8 billion in one of the industry’s first alternative mutual funds. Mr. Hanus was also a Portfolio Manager and co-founder at North Peak Asset Management, where he led the firm’s multi-asset class, multi-manager inflation hedging mutual fund. Mr. Hanus also advised many of the world’s largest asset management firms on strategic and operational issues as a Partner in Oliver Wyman’s Wealth and Asset Management practice and as a Director at Alpha consulting.
“I am excited to join RealBlocks at this point in the firm’s growth trajectory. They continue to pioneer technology innovation in the alternative investments space, particularly in addressing the issues of administration, access to offshore capital and liquidity in alternative investments for managers and investors,” said Mr. Hanus. “I’m looking forward to working with the team to provide real solutions to these long-standing issues, ultimately building a better alternative investment experience for wealth managers and investors and powering growth for RealBlocks.”
Mr. Hanus holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a BSBA in Finance from the University of Richmond. Mr. Hanus is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
About RealBlocks
RealBlocks is building the best alternative investment experience for investors and advisors worldwide through its revolutionary technology. Today, alternative investment managers are primarily limited to raising capital only within their local market. However with RealBlocks, these managers can now raise capital in any international market by using our platform to connect with institutional and intermediary channels. Our firm’s growing client list includes some of the world’s most respected alternative investment managers that are using our technology to grow their AUM.