Alternative Investments Management Association

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) is a global representative of the alternative investment industry. Founded in 1990, AIMA is a not-for-profit organization that aims to provide leadership and advocacy in the field of alternative investments, including hedge funds, private credit, and other asset classes beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
AIMA was established to address the unique needs and challenges of the alternative investment industry. Over the years, it has grown to become a prominent global organization, with members from over 60 countries, including fund managers, institutional investors, service providers, and other industry professionals.
AIMA's mission is to promote the growth and development of the alternative investment industry while maintaining high standards of professionalism and ethics. The association's activities are focused on the three main areas of advocacy and lobbying, research and education and networking and collaboration. 
AIMA works with regulatory bodies and policymakers around the world to ensure that the regulatory framework for alternative investments is fair, efficient, and effective. The association advocates for policies that promote market integrity and investor protection.
AIMA conducts research on issues relevant to the alternative investment industry and publishes reports, guides, and best practice recommendations. It also provides educational programs and events to help industry professionals stay informed about the latest trends, developments, and regulatory changes.
The association offers a platform for members to network, exchange ideas, and collaborate on common interests. AIMA hosts conferences, seminars, and workshops that bring together industry leaders and experts to discuss issues facing the alternative investment sector.
== History ==
=== Formation and Early Years ===
The origins of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) trace back to 1990, with the establishment of its forerunner, the European Managed Futures Association (EMFA), in London. Initially, EMFA's membership primarily consisted of managed futures funds, although hedge funds and currency funds were also represented. By the end of 1990, EMFA's members managed approximately $29 billion in assets, nearly three-quarters of the global industry's total assets of $39 billion. The association's first head office was located at the International Petroleum Exchange in London.
=== Development and Expansion ===
In 1992, EMFA launched its inaugural member publication, the EMFA Newsletter, setting the stage for what would eventually become the AIMA Journal. This period marked the beginning of the association's engagement with regulatory and tax issues, which would become longstanding interests.
The year 1997 was pivotal for EMFA, as it transitioned to the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), reflecting the diversification and growth of the industry it represented. The AIMA Journal replaced the EMFA Newsletter as the association's key publication.
=== Global Outreach ===
AIMA's global footprint expanded significantly in the years that followed. In 1999, it established its first National Group in Hong Kong. The turn of the millennium saw the introduction of the AIMA Regulatory Forum, a precursor to the AIMA Global Policy and Regulatory Forum. By 2000, AIMA had over 250 member firms. The early 2000s witnessed the launch of National Groups in Australia, Japan (2001), Canada, South Africa (2003), and Singapore (2004), among others.
The association celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2005 with 870 corporate members across 46 countries, demonstrating its increasingly global and diverse membership base.
=== Challenges and Recovery ===
The global financial crisis of 2007/8 had a profound impact on AIMA and the wider financial industry, leading to a decline in corporate membership. However, by 2010, the industry and AIMA began to recover, with membership rising again to over 1,200 firms.
=== Milestones and Innovations ===
Significant milestones in the following years included the establishment of the Alternative Credit Council (ACC) in 2014, the opening of offices in New York (2012), Shanghai (2016), Brussels (2018), and Washington DC (2019), and a comprehensive rebranding in 2016 that included the first logo change since 1997.
=== Present Status ===
As of 2017, AIMA concluded the year with nearly 2,000 corporate members, managing over $2 trillion in hedge fund or private credit assets, across more than 60 countries. This growth underscores AIMA's role as a leading global representative of the alternative investment industry, committed to advocating for the sector's interests and fostering a more understanding regulatory environment worldwide.
== Organization and Influence ==
=== Membership ===
AIMA's membership base is diverse, including hedge fund managers, private equity firms, family offices, pension funds, endowments, and service providers such as law firms, accounting firms, and custodians. Members benefit from access to industry research, educational materials, advocacy efforts, and networking opportunities.
=== Impact and Contributions ===
AIMA has played a significant role in shaping the global alternative investment landscape. Its contributions to policy discussions and regulatory debates have helped to foster a more stable and transparent industry environment. Through its educational initiatives, AIMA has also contributed to the professional development of thousands of industry practitioners.
====Media====
AIMA maintains a YouTube page as well as one on Google Podcasts. Google Podcasts is home to AIMA's The Long-Short podcast series, which "aims to provide a window into the world of alternative investments. The Long-Short is also on Apple Podcasts, the Podtails and Spotify.
==== The Long-Short Podcast ====
<rss max=4 highlight="The Long-Short">https://rss.app/feeds/lJ5JmZqEZJgx22Gg.xml</rss>
====Private Fund Advisors Rules====
The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), alongside other associations like the National Association of Private Fund Managers (NAPFM) and Managed Funds Association (MFA), filed lawsuits against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) challenging certain rules that they argue exceed the SEC's statutory authority and are arbitrary, capricious, and otherwise unlawful. The challenges are specifically against the final Private Fund Advisers Rules adopted by the SEC on August 23, 2023, and rules requiring reporting and public disclosure of securities loans and short selling activity.
AIMA and its co-plaintiffs argue that these rules are detrimental to the alternative investment industry and the broader financial markets. They contend that the rules impose unreasonable restrictions, harming market efficiency, price discovery, and the ability of private fund managers to offer customized solutions to investors. Furthermore, the associations assert that the SEC's approach in formulating these rules was inconsistent and lacked a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis, undermining the market's resilience and failing to protect investors as intended.
=== Governance ===
AIMA is governed by a board of directors composed of industry leaders and practitioners. The association operates through a global network of offices, with its headquarters in London and regional offices in key financial centers such as New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo.
==Video==
== Key People ==
*Jack Inglis, Chief Executive Officer
*Jiří Król, Deputy CEO, Global Head of Government Affairs
*Khristel Aldana, US Senior Events Manager
*Zandra Ang, Community and Partnerships Associate
*Dawn Angley, Director, Global Head of Events
*Daniel Austin, Head of US Markets Policy and Regulation
*Romulad Beneche, US Director, AIMA
*Michael Bugel, Managing Director, Co-Head of APAC, AIMA
*Janice Cheng, Team Assistant
*Chris Clifford, Content and Communications Analyst
*Rosie Collins, Team Assistant
*James Delaney, Director, Asset Management Regulation, AIMA
*Joe Engelhard, Head of Private Credit and Asset Management Policy Americas
*Katarzyna Gaffke, Office Manager
*Michael Gallagher, Managing Director, Head of Australia
*Caterina Giordo, Associate, Brand, Creative and Content Manager
*Paul Hale, Managing Director, Global Head of Tax Affairs
*Jordan Hogan, Membership Associate
*James Hopegood, Director, Asset Management Regulation
*Maryam Idroos, Membership and Event Associate
*Alexandra Israfilova, Program Associate, Americas
*Adam Jacobs-Dean, Managing Director, Global Head of Markets, Governance and Innovation
*Tom Kehoe, Managing Director, Global Head of Research and Communications
*Sam Koslover, Private Credit Analyst
*Kathy Kwan (關羽彤), Head of APAC Events
*Kher Sheng Lee, Managing Director, Co-Head of APAC and Deputy Global Head of Government Affairs
*Jane Moran, Associate Director, Government Affairs/Executive Assistant
*Odetta Ng, Office Manager, Hong Kong
*Drew Nicol, Associate Director, Research and Communications
*Michelle Noyes, Managing Director, Head of Americas
*Danny O'Connell, Head of Brussels Office
*Guillermo Pérez Molina, Private Credit Associate
*Nick Pernas, US Policy & Regulation Analyst
*Aniqah Rao, Associate, Markets, Governance and Innovation
*Mary Richardson, Company Secretary
*Lucy Robinson, Team Assistant
*Thomas Sharpe, Associate Director, Markets, Governance and Innovation
*Kate Shaw, Events Manager
*Kirsten Smith, Director, Global Head of HR/Assistant to the CEO
*Nick Smith, Managing Director, Private Credit
*Kanako Someya (染谷かな子), General Manager, Japan
*Laura Stern, Membership Administrator
*Kirk Taylor, Chief Operating Officer
*Lee Kwang Teo, Director, Head of Singapore
*Millie Tipler, Events Coordinator
*Fiona Treble, Managing Director, Global Head of Membership, AIMA
*Claire Van Wyk-Allan, Managing Director, Head of Canada, AIMA
*Jennifer Wood, Managing Director, Global Head of Asset Management Regulation & Sound Practices
*Frank Wu // 吴帆, Director, Head of China
== References ==
Category:Industry Associations