Walleye Capital Hires New Equity Division Executives
The firm adds two leaders to its equity long-short division as it looks to expand its risk-taking capacity.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Corporate Finance
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Walleye Capital has recruited Jordan Tanner from Balyasny Asset Management and Anna Dev from Millennium Management to lead its equity long-short division. These strategic hires come as the firm works to grow its head count following the departure of former chief operating officer Matt Giannini in September 2026.
Why it matters
The firm aims to significantly boost the risk-taking capacity and overall headcount of its stock-picking unit. This expansion follows a period of personnel changes and a recent performance decline within its flagship fund.
Walleye Capital manages $17 billion in assets and added 14 external managers to its division in 2026. The firm currently holds investments in 31 different equity long-short funds.
The players
Walleye Capital
This investment management firm based in New York and Minnesota currently oversees $17 billion in assets.
Jordan Tanner
Previously with Balyasny Asset Management, he is joining the firm to enhance collaboration through artificial intelligence.
Anna Dev
She joins from Millennium Management and will be responsible for recruiting and evaluating new investment opportunities.
Matt Giannini
He served as the chief operating officer for the firm's equity unit before departing for Citadel in September 2026.
The details
Jordan Tanner is tasked with using artificial intelligence to increase collaboration among strategy teams, while Anna Dev will focus on recruiting talent and evaluating investment opportunities. The firm plans to onboard three additional portfolio managers before the end of 2026, with five more scheduled to begin trading in 2027.
Timeline
The firm produced a 15.5% gain during 2025.
Matt Giannini departed his role at Walleye in September 2026.
The multistrategy fund recorded a 0.5% loss through the first three quarters of 2026.
Three new portfolio managers are expected to start by the end of 2026.
Jordan Tanner and Anna Dev are scheduled to begin at the firm in mid-2027.
Market Dynamics
The firm's performance is set against the PivotalPath index return through Q3 of 2026, which provides a benchmark for institutional fund returns. This move highlights the broader industry shift toward integrating AI for team collaboration while managing volatile market cycles.
The firm's expansion and shift toward AI-driven strategies may influence the long-term performance of its multistrategy funds for investors. Clients should monitor whether these personnel changes improve fund returns following the recent 0.5% year-to-date decline.
The takeaway
The firm's aggressive hiring indicates a strategic pivot toward greater internal collaboration and AI integration. Investors should track these structural changes as potential drivers for future performance recovery.
What happens next
Three new portfolio managers are scheduled to start at the firm before the end of 2026, followed by five additional managers in 2027.
Further reading
For more on industry hiring, visit the Corporate Finance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Business Insider.
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