Credit Suisse Hedge Fund Investment Chief Joins Optima

NEW YORK (HedgeWorld.com)–Optima Group appointed Thomas Gimbel managing director for business and product development, with a primary focus on marketing the firm’s fund of funds products in the United States and in Asia and Europe.

Mr. Gimbel previously was managing director at Credit Suisse Asset Management. There, as manager of the hedge fund investments department, he developed fund of funds and selected hedge fund investments. He also sat on the Credit Suisse First Boston asset allocation committee of private client services and the firm’s hedge fund round table.

His resume includes stints as managing director of investment banking at PaineWebber Inc., as chairman of PaineWebber Futures Management Corp., and as managing director at Kidder, Peabody & Co. At PaineWebber he established the firm’s first hedge fund product for high-net-worth clients.

Optima founder and managing partner Dixon Boardman said in a statement that Mr. Gimbel brings a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience from the hedge fund industry that will make him valuable as the business continues to grow.