A star ex-CEO of an asset management titan is ramping up his relationship with a $4.75-billion-AUM, 22-year-old shop that focuses on emerging markets.

Mohamed El-Erian Allianz Chief Economic Adviser

Yesterday, Robert Koenigsberger, managing partner and chief investment officer of Gramercy Funds Management, confirmed that the Greenwich, Connecticut-based firm has gained its first chair: Mohamed El-Erian. El-Erian is no stranger to the Gramercy team; he has been an advisor to, and investor in, Gramercy since April of last year.

El-Erian is also chief economic advisor to Allianz and president-elect of Queens' College at Cambridge University.

As for El-Erian's new role with Gramercy, Koenigsberger stated: "Over the last year, Mohamed has made a material contribution to our business. In this new role, he will further help ensure that Gramercy realizes its mission of having a positive impact on the well-being of our clients, portfolio investments and team members."

"Mohamed is a perfect fit for Gramercy as he is one of the most brilliant top-down decoders of macro themes, an investor who can transform those themes into investable ideas and he has long shared our passion for Emerging Markets," Koenigsberger added.

"It has been a real joy and honor to work with Gramercy over the last 16 months, especially on issues and in an area that I am very passionate about. Having gotten to know well the team and investors, my already-high respect and admiration for the firm has only grown," El-Erian stated. "As such, I am excited to take on this new role, particularly at a time when we are all looking to navigate the unusual uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 shock."

"Gramercy is exceptionally well positioned to be at the forefront of innovative solutions to the myriad of challenges facing both investors and issuers in emerging markets, impacting the people they serve and employ," El-Erian added.

To fundsters, El-Erian is probably best known as the one-time CEO and co-chief investment officer of Pimco, though he left the fixed income giant in 2014. (He first joined Pimco in 1999 as a PM, and he rejoined in 2007.)

El-Erian has held many roles in the world of higher education, including as CEO and president of Harvard Management Company, as professor of practice at UPenn's Wharton School, and senior global fellow at the Lauder Institute.

El-Erian has also worked in the public sector. For fifteen years he was the deputy director of the IMF, and he served as chairman of the Global Development Council under President Obama. 

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