Securing Niche AI Talent for a Leading Hedge Fund

Key takeaways

The challenge

A leading name in the investment management space approached Selby Jennings with a brief to hire two professionals for its newly formed applied AI function:

• A senior role focused on front-office AI, supporting investment decisions through the development of knowledge graphs. The ideal candidate needed to blend machine learning expertise with strong software engineering principles – an unusual skill set more commonly found in big tech than in finance.
• A mid-level role designed to increase operational efficiency by automating workflows across HR, legal, marketing, and other internal functions. This role required strong technical execution and the ability to work cross-functionally within a centralised team.

The business had made a significant internal investment in AI innovation, appointing a Head of AI from Google and backing the team with a long-term roadmap and substantial resources.

Despite being a well-known and well-funded player, they encountered challenges filling the roles due to a combination of market complexity and talent scarcity. They also had flexibility across multiple geographies, including New York, London, and several other US cities, as they wanted to prioritise securing the best candidate over filling a specific office location.

The firm knew what they were looking for in each case, but needed support in sourcing, shortlisting, closing, and managing expectations throughout the hiring process.

The solution

Selby Jennings assigned a dedicated consultant to manage both searches simultaneously, given the crossover in team structure and company context. A bespoke sourcing strategy was developed for each role.

For the senior front-office role, 15 CVs were submitted, leading to three interviews and one final offer. The successful candidate came from a big tech background and was already in advanced talks with two of the client’s direct competitors. To secure the hire, we provided the candidate with relevant performance data comparing the firms, as well as insights on the diversity, stability, and visibility of the AI role within the hedge fund. This comparative positioning helped shift the candidate’s preference toward our client. Offer negotiations also included clear communication around long-term career potential and team culture, which resonated strongly.

For the mid-level hire, who was focused on building automation tools for internal teams, the client reviewed nine CVs and held four interviews before extending an offer. This candidate proved to be a more complex close. He was young, highly confident, and demanded a substantial salary uplift. He also received interest from former employers during the process. Through careful expectation management, coaching, and support from senior Selby Jennings stakeholders, we secured acceptance of a highly competitive offer that met his financial requirements. 

The results

Both roles were successfully filled in the company’s London office within fewer than eight weeks from brief to acceptance, and the professionals made an immediate impact in their new positions.

These placements are now being used internally by the client as a proof of concept for broader investment in AI talent, and also gave them the confidence to continue growing their AI team, with Selby Jennings as their partner of choice.

Summary

By taking a targeted, advisory-led approach to two complex AI hires, Selby Jennings helped a global hedge fund strengthen its applied AI team with two strategically important placements. Despite intense competition and challenging candidate dynamics, our consultants delivered a fast, focused solution that exceeded expectations. The results demonstrate not only the strength of our AI talent network, but also the value of true partnership in closing critical hiring gaps in emerging specialisms.