Research and Manager Selection

E. Sidney Ahl, CFA joined CDK in 2003 and is in charge of CDK’s manager research area, based in New York. He was formerly a Senior Consultant with FactSet Research, advising hedge funds, institutional investment and private wealth managers. While at FactSet, he worked for his clients in the design and implementation of quantitative security selection, portfolio performance attribution and portfolio risk management models. He graduated from Cornell University with a BA in Economics, and received a General Course degree in Statistics from the London School of Economics.

Gaylord Nyamayi, CFA is responsible for operational risk due diligence as well as operations and finance for CDK Investments LLP in London. He was formerly the Chief Financial Officer of Collingham Capital Management LLP, a London based fund of hedge funds that formed a strategic alliance with CDK in 2009. He began his career with KPMG working in Zimbabwe, Cayman Islands and the UK. He left KPMG in 2001 to join Morley Fund Management where he supervised the Alternative Operations Department. In 2004, he then moved to GLG Partners’ fund of hedge funds division where he was in charge of amongst other functions operational risk due diligence, operations, fund accounting and third party service providers oversight. He is a CFA Charterholder, Chartered Accountant and MBA graduate of the University of Cambridge’s Judge Business School.

Relationship Management

Stephen J. Burke is in charge of CDK’s relationship management area in New York. He was formerly a Senior Vice President of sales and marketing at DUNBAR Capital Management, a New York based fund of funds group. During his time there, he was responsible for developing relationships within the retail and institutional markets. Prior to his time at DUNBAR, he spent two years at i-Deal, where he marketed and sold the firm’s software platform to the capital markets desks of the major Wall Street investment banks. Previously, he held positions at Netstockquest.com, the Carson Group & Morgan Stanley. He graduated from Princeton University with an AB in Politics and a certificate in Economics.

Delphine C. Pariente is responsible for CDK's business development and strategic marketing efforts out of the New York office. She was formerly an Investor Relations Associate at Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., where she managed client services-related activities for four investment funds with approximately $8 billion in assets under management from over 1,000 clients ranging from individuals to public pension funds.  Prior to Cerberus, she was an Investment Advisor Associate at Emcor Securities, Inc., a $200+ million Investment Advisor to offshore fund-of-funds.  Her responsibilities included establishing relationships and managing all communications with over 70 hedge fund managers participating in six fund-of-funds, and creating/updating marketing presentations and monthly performance reports.  Ms. Pariente graduated cum laude from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University with a B.S. in Marketing and International Business.

Finance & Administration

David A. Kahen is the CFO of CDK. He was formerly a controller at Mezzacappa Management, LLC, where he administered the accounting of five funds of hedge funds, with 40 underlying managers and over 150 investors. Mr. Kahen was tasked with the calculation of NAVs and preparation of monthly investor statements. Additionally, Mr. Kahen acted as the main contact with the auditors and other firm vendors. Mr. Kahen started his career at Arthur Andersen, LLC as an auditor of financial services companies. Mr. Kahen is a CPA and graduated magna cum laude from Queens College with a B.A. in Accounting and Economics.

Ursula Ward is CDK’s Director of Administration. She was formerly director of Administration at The Ruth Group, Inc., where her focus was on finance, administration, and new business initiatives. Prior to that, she worked at Marvel Enterprises, Inc. specializing in their intellectual properties, which included Spider-Man, X-Men, The incredible Hulk, and Captain America.

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