Meketa expands London office

Meketa Investment Group has strengthened its European team with the relocation of senior vice president Timothy Atkinson to London.

Atkinson, who joined Meketa in 2008, was previously based in the firm’s Boston office where he was responsible for investment manager research and client servicing. He joins the London office to perform manager due diligence across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), specialising in credit and other debt strategies.

“We are committed to providing our clients with creative, research-led investment solutions and Tim’s appointment helps us continue to deliver on that effort. His experience and expertise in public markets research brings a new capability to the office, enhancing our coverage of the region and supporting our growing presence here in the UK,” Stephen McCourt, managing principal at Meketa, said in a statement.

Last October Meketa transferred Christy Gahr and Edmund Walsh from two of its North American offices, PEI revealed at the time. Gahr, an assistant vice-president, is responsible for due diligence on European private equity funds, as well as funds in other asset classes. Walsh, a vice-president, is an economic researcher for the firm, according to his LinkedIn page.

These appointments came after Meketa opened its first office outside the US last June. The London office, which is led by managing principal Stephen McCourt, will provide research support to Meketa US offices on public market, private market and risk management strategies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Meketa has been running in the US since 1978 and advises more than 90 institutional clients on more than $270 billion in assets. In April, Meketa was selected by California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) to provide general consulting services to the pension plan’s investment committee. The firm both advises on allocations to funds as well as managing some discretionary fund commitment programmes.