UBS has initiated a leadership transition within its O’Connor unit after the co-heads of the capital solutions strategy, Rodrigo Trelles and Baxter Wasson, declined offers to join Cantor Fitzgerald. According to a source familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters, both executives opted not to move to the U.S. brokerage despite earlier expectations tied to Cantor’s planned acquisition of O’Connor.
In their place, UBS O’Connor has appointed Gregory Najarian as portfolio manager, effective immediately. Najarian will lead the team with support from Jaeho Choi and Joshua Mercado, signaling UBS’s efforts to maintain stability within the capital solutions business during a broader strategic shift. Bloomberg News was the first to report the developments.
The transition follows a challenging period for UBS. Earlier this month, the Swiss banking group confirmed it would wind down certain investment funds operated by O’Connor after losses linked to exposure to First Brands Group, a U.S. auto parts supplier that recently filed for bankruptcy. The decision highlights UBS’s ongoing effort to streamline its operations and reduce risk across its alternative investment portfolio.
O’Connor, a long-standing alternatives platform under UBS, spans hedge funds, alternative credit, and commodities strategies. Despite the restructuring, UBS continues to position the platform as an important part of its broader investment offering.
Cantor Fitzgerald, meanwhile, had reached an agreement earlier this year to acquire O’Connor as part of its own expansion into alternative investments. The move was seen as a strategic step for Cantor, while UBS has been reshaping its business following the landmark merger with Credit Suisse in 2023.
The leadership changes and fund wind-downs reflect a period of transition for UBS as it refocuses on core priorities, manages legacy risks, and prepares for the next phase of integration and consolidation post-merger.


EU Court Cuts Intel Antitrust Fine to €237 Million Amid Long-Running AMD Dispute
SpaceX Edges Toward Landmark IPO as Elon Musk Confirms Plans
China Adds Domestic AI Chips to Government Procurement List as U.S. Considers Easing Nvidia Export Curbs
Trello Outage Disrupts Users as Access Issues Hit Atlassian’s Work Management Platform
Microsoft Unveils Massive Global AI Investments, Prioritizing India’s Rapidly Growing Digital Market
Evercore Reaffirms Alphabet’s Search Dominance as AI Competition Intensifies
ANZ Faces Legal Battle as Former CEO Shayne Elliott Sues Over A$13.5 Million Bonus Dispute
SpaceX Insider Share Sale Values Company Near $800 Billion Amid IPO Speculation
Azul Airlines Wins Court Approval for $2 Billion Debt Restructuring and New Capital Raise
GameStop Misses Q3 Revenue Estimates as Digital Shift Pressures Growth
SoftBank Shares Slide as Oracle’s AI Spending Plans Fuel Market Jitters
SK Hynix Considers U.S. ADR Listing to Boost Shareholder Value Amid Rising AI Chip Demand
Rio Tinto Signs Interim Agreement With Yinhawangka Aboriginal Group Over Pilbara Mining Operations
Air Transat Reaches Tentative Agreement With Pilots, Avoids Strike and Restores Normal Operations
SoftBank Eyes Switch Inc as It Pushes Deeper Into AI Data Center Expansion
United Airlines Flight to Tokyo Returns to Dulles After Engine Failure During Takeoff
Coca-Cola’s Costa Coffee Sale Faces Uncertainty as Talks With TDR Capital Hit Snag 



