Dublin-based alternative data sourcing and analytics provider, Eagle Alpha, recently announced that Niall Hurley, former Head of Business Development will be assuming the position of CEO. In addition, Natalie Aitken, who recently came to Eagle Alpha from data vendor, App Annie, has been appointed Head of Business Development.
Key Management Changes at Eagle Alpha
Niall Hurley, Eagle Alpha’s former Head of Business Development and a member of the Board for the past 3 years, was recently named CEO, replacing founder and CEO Emmett Kilduff in that role. Niall has more than twenty years’ of experience in capital markets and asset management. Previously, Niall spent more than 6 years at Goodbody Wealth Management and RAB Capital in London. Prior to his stint on the buy-side Niall spent more than one year at Deutsche bank in equity derivatives and almost seven years at Goldman Sachs in a similar role. Niall graduated with an MBA Finance from UCD Business School and a BBLS in Business and Law from the University of Dublin.
Natalie Aitken, who recently joined Eagle Alpha as Head of its Corporate Vertical, has been named Head of Business Development in Niall’s place. Prior to joining Eagle Alpha, Ms. Aitken spent more than 3 years running mobile app download and engagement data provider App Annie’s EMEA Investor business. Previously, Natalie worked for five years in sales at Roambi, a SAP company, and before that for more than 4 years managing Qlik’s telecom and media business. Earlier in her career, Ms. Aitken spent more than a decade in various sales and project management roles at Fluency Voice Technology, eGain Communications, Genesys, and Citibank. Natalie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Criminology degree from Victoria University of Wellington.
Emmett Kilduff, the Founder & CEO of Eagle Alpha explained these recent management moves, “I founded the business back in 2012. Having run the company for 8 years I believe now it is time to hand over the baton to Niall so that he can bring new energy the role. I have known Niall for 20+ years and look forward to working with him on the next chapter of Eagle Alpha. Niall has built very strong relationships with our asset management clients. Natalie is a proven sales professional and her promotion will help us increase our traction into the corporate and private equity verticals.” Emmett will become the Executive Chairman in order to explore additional business interests.
Our Take
Eagle Alpha was founded in 2012 by a former Morgan Stanley investment banker, Emmett Kilduff. Originally envisioned as a social media research and data firm, the business model has undergone a variety of permutations over the years. The firm currently offers four basic services: data sourcing; data analytics for the data sets it collects or distributes; a ‘data strategy’ service which includes monthly workshops on alt data use cases and input on compliance issues; and, the capability of creating bespoke alternative data projects.
In August of 2019, Eagle Alpha raised $2.4 mln, bringing the total capital raised to date to $8.7 million. It previously raised a $1 million angel round in 2017 and $5.3 million in three seed rounds in 2014 and 2015. One of the uses of the additional capital was to target new verticals beyond hedge funds and asset managers. Earlier in 2019, Eagle Alpha began focusing on the private equity segment and started prospecting for corporate clients – one of the reasons the firm initially said it hired Natalie Aitken.
The most recent management change at Eagle Alpha is interesting as it alters the responsibilities for two of the most senior team members responsible for setting and implementing business strategy for the firm. While it is not clear that the new management team will make any major business changes in the near future, it does suggest that this is a possibility.