Monarq Appoints Sam Gaer as CIO to Boost Directional Strategy

Monarq Asset Management, a prominent multi-strategy investment firm, has announced the appointment of Sam Gaer as its new Chief Investment Officer (CIO). This strategic move is aimed at enhancing the firm's directional investment strategy, which focuses on capturing a broader range of risk-adjusted returns. Gaer, with over 25 years of leadership experience in institutional trading, market infrastructure, and systematic asset management, brings a wealth of expertise to Monarq.

Monarq, formerly known as MNNC Group, has seen significant success in delta-neutral and market-making strategies over the past decade. The firm is now expanding its capabilities to include directional strategies, which emphasize high-conviction themes, asymmetric exposures, and tactical volatility overlays. This shift is designed to help Monarq navigate evolving market conditions with greater precision and capture more diverse investment opportunities.

The Directional Strategy at Monarq has already shown strong performance year-to-date, demonstrating disciplined risk and capital allocation. The firm is backed by global institutional capital across its USD and BTC-denominated funds, positioning it to scale access to Directional as a complementary source of absolute returns within its platform.

Shiliang Tang, CEO and Managing Partner of Monarq, expressed enthusiasm about Gaer's appointment, stating, “His leadership enhances our ability to compound asymmetric returns and anticipate key catalysts in the digital asset space.” Gaer's extensive experience includes co-managing BlockTower Capital’s flagship fund, founding Katana Financial, and serving as CIO at FINRA and EVP/CIO at NYMEX, where he led major technological transformations and strategic initiatives.

Gaer's educational background includes a degree in Corporate Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, further solidifying his credentials as a leader in the financial industry. His appointment is expected to bring a fresh perspective to Monarq's investment approach, potentially leading to new opportunities and enhanced performance.

Monarq Asset Management, managed by former executives from firms such as LedgerPrime, Tower Research, and BlockTower Capital, offers extensive experience in quantitative trading, volatility strategies, and digital market structure. The firm is committed to generating consistent, risk-adjusted returns through all market conditions, and Gaer's leadership is expected to drive this objective forward.