North Rock hires DWS alum for European quant equities

North Rock Capital has hired Pierre Doulcet as a systematic equity portfolio manager in London. The UK Financial Conduct Authority register shows he joined the firm on July 8. He will be based in London and focus on systematic equity strategies.

Doulcet spent seven years as a portfolio manager at DWS Group and previously held roles at BNP Paribas and Société Générale.

The appointment is part of North Rock’s plans to build a systematic equities business in Europe. The firm has not disclosed additional hires or structural changes tied to that plan.

North Rock is a US hedge fund and a unit of Lighthouse Investment Partners. The firm already operates long-short equity and capital markets businesses in Europe.

Systematic equity strategies use quantitative models, statistical analysis and automated trading rules to select and weight stocks rather than rely on discretionary analyst stock picking. The role will support model development, portfolio construction and execution for those strategies within North Rock’s European operations.

North Rock expanded its London headcount about three years ago when it recruited for its long-short and capital markets teams. The Doulcet appointment is the only publicly disclosed personnel change linked to the firm’s stated plans for quantitative equities in Europe.