Cantor Fitzgerald Named Eric Johnston Head of Equities

The veteran strategist takes on new leadership roles at the firm following the recent acquisition of UBS O'Connor.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in People

Cantor Fitzgerald Named Eric Johnston Head of Equities

Live Poll

Do you believe changes in top corporate leadership affect your long-term investment success?

Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management has appointed Eric Johnston as the head of equities at O'Connor and chief market strategist. Johnston will now report directly to the global head of Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management, Bill Ferri.

Why it matters

The move is designed to support the expansion of the O'Connor equity capital markets franchise and bolster investment capabilities across the firm. Johnston will manage the equity long/short strategy while providing market outlooks and macro investment guidance for clients.

The appointment follows the firm's acquisition of UBS O'Connor earlier in 2026. Johnston transitions from his former role as chief equity and macro strategist at Cantor.

The players

Eric Johnston

He is the newly appointed head of equities at O'Connor and chief market strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management who formerly led equity trading at Deutsche Bank.

Bill Ferri

He serves as the global head of Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management and is the direct supervisor for Eric Johnston.

The details

Eric Johnston previously served as the Americas head of equity trading at Deutsche Bank before joining Cantor. His new responsibilities integrate his expertise in macro-level investment views with the active management of the O'Connor equity long/short portfolio.

Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management acquired UBS O'Connor earlier in 2026.
The appointment of Eric Johnston was announced on October 5, 2026.

Market Landscape

This strategic hire aligns with the firm's broader efforts to consolidate market share following the 2026 acquisition of UBS O'Connor. It positions Cantor Fitzgerald to compete more aggressively in equity capital markets by integrating specialized long/short investment expertise.

Clients of the firm may experience changes in how investment strategies are presented and executed under the new leadership. This shift may also impact available research and market outlook products provided to the firm's institutional client base.

The takeaway

The appointment signals a clear intent to prioritize the growth of O'Connor's equity franchise within the parent company. Investors should watch for further developments in how the firm scales its long/short investment strategies under this combined leadership structure.