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Valerie Benard – Advisory Services - Europe
Valerie has 16 years of experience in hedge research, advisory, investor relations and business development. Valerie graduated from the Faculte des Affaires Internationales in Le Havre, France in 1994 with a Masters of International Finance and Business. In 1994, she joined TASS Investment Research Limited where she was responsible for marketing, sales and client service for the TASS databases in Europe and was involved in researching hedge funds and CTAs. In 1998, Valerie became a partner of TASS Investment Research Limited. When TASS was acquired in 1999, Valerie became Director of Business Development for Tremont Advisers. Valerie was responsible for promoting the firm’s advisory services outside the United States, as well as managing the database sales team globally. In 2001, Valerie joined Blackstone Alternative Asset Management (BAAM) to establish Blackstone’s hedge fund presence in Europe. Her responsibilities included identifying and researching hedge fund managers based in Europe and overseeing non-US institutional sales, marketing and business development strategy for BAAM’s funds of hedge funds. In late 2003, she became Head of BAAM London and was a member of the Executive Committee, Blackstone’s European advisory board and BAAM’s advisory board. Valerie led the business development effort in the UK, Europe, non-Japan Asia, and the Middle East. In 2005, she was promoted to Managing Director. Since 2007, Valerie has been serving as Head of Business Development and Investor Relations for BAAM in Europe. Valerie joined Aksia in September 2009 as Head of Aksia Europe in London and is responsible for the development of Aksia's European presence.