Apex Group Ltd., one of the world's largest fund administrators, today announced the expansion of its U.S. team with the addition of several new senior hires to be based out of its New York office.

Apex continues to grow rapidly in markets across North America, expanding its global footprint following a series of successful acquisitions teamed with organic growth.

The Group now has a strong presence across the Americas region with offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, Santa Ana and San Francisco, in addition to Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Toronto and Uruguay. Apex's focus on expanding its brand and service capabilities across North America sees the addition of seven new senior team members in the New York office to drive new business and strengthen the Group's local presence.

The successful integration of Deutsche Bank Alternative Fund Services last month adds three new senior executives in New York: Georges Archibald, Head of Apex Americas, Melanie Cohen, Global Head of Private Equity and Jason Sheller, Head of Private Equity Sales Americas (details on roles and experience below). The depth and breadth of expertise they bring to the business complements Apex's focus on developing in the private equity market across the U.S. and bolsters its senior expertise locally across all asset classes.

Apex is demonstrating increased focus on the U.S. by placing several senior Group hires in New York, including Fred Jacobs, Chief Revenue Officer, who was appointed in April this year, and Joseph Holman, Global Head of Allocators, announced last week. In addition, four other experienced sales professionals have joined the U.S. team in New York: Anthony Vitale, Devin Vasquez, Gerald Barbaraand Ira Schnell (details on roles and experience below). The intentional placement of seasoned industry professionals in the New York office demonstrates Apex's commitment to raising its profile in the region and offering clients robust local experience supported by extensive cross-jurisdictional capabilities and access.

Peter Hughes, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Apex Group Ltd., said:

"We are really focusing on bolstering our U.S. market presence, and our investment in this talented, experienced group of new team members marks an exciting and promising chapter for Apex in the region. The level of private equity knowledge these individuals bring is second to none, and as we continue to expand in the Americas it is paramount we offer managers unrivalled service delivered by the most knowledgeable people in the market. Apex is now perfectly positioned to continue to expand locally and focus on tailored solutions for the U.S. marketplace while continuing to thrive on the global fund administration stage."

The additions to the U.S. Sales Team are:

• Anthony Vitale – Director, Business DevelopmentVitale joins Apex with significant business development experience tailored to the investment management space. Before joining Apex, Vitale served as a Business Development Associate at investment software company SS&C Technologies. Previously, he worked as a Business Development Executive at Augentius Fund Administration LLP.
• Devin Vasquez – Director, U.S. Private Equity Fund SalesVasquez brings extensive sales and client development experience to Apex. Vasquez joins the firm from Ipreo Private Capital Markets, a financial software and data analytics provider, where he held the title of Client Development Associate. Previously, Vasquez worked in sales development at iLEVEL Solutions, a cloud-based software provider, before the company was acquired by Ipreo.
• Gerald Barbara – Sales Director Prior to joining Apex, Barbara served as SVP and Business Development Officer for Alternative Investments at U.S. Bancorp Fund Services LLC, an industry-leading mutual fund and alternative investment service provider. Barbara has over 20 years of experience in the space, with a specialized focus on alternative investment administration and custody services. Barbara is also Co-Founder and Officer of the Mid-Atlantic Hedge Fund Association.
• Ira Schnell – Sales Director Schnell brings Apex significant global sales experience, having most recently worked at JNK Securities Corporation on the Institutional Sales team. Previously, Schnell held the title of Equity Sales Trader at Guggenheim Partners, a global investment and advisory financial services firm. He also worked as an Institutional Sales Trader at Kaufman Brothers in New York City.

Senior U.S. team members integrated from the Deutsche Bank Alternative Fund Services acquisition are:

• Georges Archibald – Head of Apex Americas Archibald brings nearly 20 years of experience in the securities services space to Apex, and held numerous leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, UBS and JP Morgan before joining Deutsche Bank. At Deutsche Bank, Archibald was Director of Alternative Funds Services Sales, leading sales to hedge fund and fund of fund managers.
• Melanie Cohen – Global Head of Private Equity Fund Administration Cohen is an experienced business leader, holding management and directorship roles at Deloitte, NBC and JP Morgan over a 20 year period before joining Deutsche Bank. Prior to joining the Apex team, Cohen held the role of Global Head of Private Equity Real Estate Fund Services at Deutsche Bank.
• Jason Sheller – Head of Private Equity Sales Americas Sheller boasts over 25 years of experience in sales, primarily focused in the alternative fund services space. Sheller was most recently the Head of Sales for Fund Services in the Americas at Deutsche Bank, leading sales efforts on hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds. Previously, Sheller worked at JP Morgan and HFS Investment Management.

About Apex The Apex Group, established in Bermuda in 2003, is one of the world's largest fund administration and middle office solutions providers with offices in 37 locations worldwide. Apex has continually improved and evolved its product suite by surrounding these core administrative services with additional products spanning the full value chain of a fund: from information delivery and regulatory products to a full middle office services and custody and depositary solutions. Apex now administers the investments of some of the largest funds and institutional investors in the world. www.apexfundservices.com