London-based hedge fund Qube Research & Technologies, managing $34 billion in assets, has announced the launch of its first in-house human stock-picking team, set to start operations on October 1, 2025. This strategic move marks a shift from the firm’s traditional quantitative investment model toward a more flexible approach incorporating human analysis.
Key Figures and Team Structure
The new team will be led by Stephen Irwin, former head of Balyasny Asset Management’s London office and founder of Lijaro Asset Management. Under his leadership, sector-focused analysts will manage separate capital segments, called “sleeves,” ranging from $200 to $500 million depending on the analyst’s experience.
Team Members
The team includes:
- Iain Simpson – Consumer sector analyst, formerly at Barclays
- Jinesh Patel – Financial sector expert, previously at Cisu and Millennium
- Raghav Bardalai – Chemicals industry specialist, ex-Moore Capital and Lijaro
- Xiaorui Song – Technology, media, and telecom analyst, formerly at Wells Fargo
- Nick Neiland – Pharmaceuticals and biotech expert, former Olympian and ex-Rokos and Citi
- Robert Joinson – Transportation and infrastructure specialist, ex-Managing Director at BNP Paribas
- William Stone – Industrial sector analyst, former partner at Praxis Alpha Partners
Strategic Context
This move reflects a broader trend among quantitative hedge funds, such as D.E. Shaw and Engineers Gate, integrating fundamental stock analysis into their investment strategies. Previously, Qube’s engagement in human stock-picking was limited to external investments and stock scouting. Now, by establishing its own team, the firm can respond more flexibly to market changes and leverage the advantages of human analysis.
