KPMG Hires Constance Hunter As Chief Economist For Its Alternative Investments Practice

NEW YORK, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm, is adding more depth to its Alternative Investments (AI) practice by hiring Constance Hunter, an economic thought leader and renowned industry expert and former portfolio manager, as its chief economist, Alternative Investments. In this newly created position, Hunter, who is based in New York, will work with the firm's global Alternative Investments leadership team to play a key role in economic forecasting, planning and strategy, and client relationship development. 

"Many financial services companies are struggling to understand the impact that current economic and geo-political developments will have on their businesses and their customers," said Al Fichera, national partner in charge, Alternative Investments–Audit. 

"Constance brings enormous value to our team and to our clients, with her broad-based knowledge of the global capital markets and her ability to understand and translate the economic impact of the business, political and regulatory issues that our clients are facing today," Fichera said.

Hunter, a highly sought after speaker and media commentator,  joins KPMG with a strong and diverse financial services background, including most recently serving as deputy chief investment officer for Fixed Income at AXA Investment Managers. Prior to joining AXA-IM, Hunter held chief economist roles with Aladdin Capital, and Galtere Ltd., a global macro hedge fund.  

Hunter also founded Coronat Asset Management, where she served as a managing member and chief investment officer.  In that role, she identified macro themes and invested in global equity, credit and FX markets to capitalize on these themes.

"The addition of Constance to our Alternative Investments team is further evidence of the industry experience, expertise and resources we are investing in the practice," said Chuck Walker, national partner in charge, Alternative Investments—Tax.   

"Over the past 18 months we have brought in more than two dozen new partners and managing directors to strengthen and broaden the expertise of our AI team, which serves hedge, real estate, private equity and other funds with non-traditional asset classes.  That investment is paying off with the momentum we have established in the market," Walker said.  

Hunter is very active in the financial services community, including serving on the board of the National Association for Business Economics (NABE). She is a member of the New York Association of Business Economics, Money Marketeers, Network 20/20 and 100 Women in Hedge Funds.  She also is a member of the National Committee for US-China relations, where she participates in the Track II Economic Dialogs with leading US and Chinese economists. Hunter is a member of the International Conference of Commercial Bank Economists (ICCBE), in which chief economists from leading global financial institutions gather annually to present and discuss views on the global economy. She also is a patron of the World Policy Institute.

She received a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, as well as a Masters of International Affairs from Columbia University.

About KPMG's Alternative Investments Practice

KPMG's Alternative Investments practice focuses on providing audit, tax and advisory services to hedge, private equity, real estate, infrastructure and fund of funds, and is an integral part of the firm's Financial Services line of business. Our Alternative Investments professionals are deeply experienced in the issues, trends, and risks relevant to companies as they meet the multifaceted challenges of regulatory reform, market developments and increased competition.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"). KPMG International's member firms have 152,000 professionals, including more than 8,600 partners, in 156 countries.

SOURCE KPMG LLP