Top quant hedge fund managers need a senior bodyguard

Who would threaten the physical security of a top quantitative hedge fund manager? The answer isn't obvious, but it's clearly an issue: quantitative hedge fund Two Sigma has been advertising for a security professional to - among other things - 'monitor and report on physical security risk to our leadership team.'

Two Sigma says the role, which is currently live on its careers site, will ideally be filled by someone with executive protection and physical security qualifications, and who has at least a decades's experience in military, intelligence, or security fields.  

The opening is for a head of physical safety and security across Two Sigma's six offices in New York, Houston, London, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai, suggesting that the successful applicant will be managing a team of subsidiary close protection officers rather than getting too close to the action him/herself. 

Two Sigma is run by chief investment officer Geoffrey Duncombe and ex-head of investor relations Carter Lyons. Former chief executive Nobel Gulati moved to become head of strategic investments this time last year. 

Inside its security cordon, Two Sigma has a reputation for being laid-back. Staff are referred to as ‘dudes’, there are ‘fiestas’ to mark life events and parties on space shuttles. “Fun and autonomy” are integral to the fund's ethos.

This being Two Sigma, the head of security won't just be standing about in a black polo-neck. The role also involves, 'data analysis and benchmarking to support risk assessments and threat identification and mitigation,' and requires a security professional who can handle, 'complex data in an environment of ever-changing deadlines, priorities and requirements.'

According to its most recently filed results for the UK, Two Sigma employs 42 people in London and pays them each an average of £220k ($283k) per head. A recent H1B Visa filing suggests it's paying its securities CTO a salary of $300k. 

Have a confidential story, tip, or comment you’d like to share? Contact: sbutcher@efinancialcareers.com in the first instance. Whatsapp/Signal/Telegram also available.

Bear with us if you leave a comment at the bottom of this article: all our comments are moderated by human beings. Sometimes these humans might be asleep, or away from their desks, so it may take a while for your comment to appear. Eventually it will – unless it’s offensive or libelous (in which case it won’t.)

Photo by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash