The Hedge Fund Association, an industry body, has expanded its leadership team, appointing Don Steinbrugge to its board of directors, among other senior hires.

Steinbrugge, the chairman of Agecroft Partners, will join a segment of the group's board which represents the interests of hedge fund investors. Prior to forming Agecroft Partners, he was head of sales and a founding principal of Andor Capital Management.

Meanwhile, Joel Schwab, managing director of Hedge Fund Research, is the firm’s new Midwest chapter director, while Kislay Shah of the accounting firm McGladrey fills the newly-created position of Connecticut chapter director. Shah also continues to serve on HFA’s board of directors.

Schwab joined HFR in March as a managing director and heads up business development for its hedge fund database and research products. 

“Chicago and the Midwest United States are important centers for the hedge fund industry,” Schwab said. “In my role as Midwest chapter director, I plan to strengthen the HFA’s already-significant presence in this region by increasing the number of educational and networking events, as well as direct outreach to industry participants.”

Having recently re-located to McGladrey’s Stamford, CT, offices, Shah serves hedge funds and other asset managers based in Connecticut and New York’s Westchester county. Prior to joining McGladrey, he served for 14 years with a “big four” accounting firm.

“One of the HFA’s most important missions has been - and remains - to speak up for the interests of smaller and emerging managers,” Shah said. “However, as a part of our expanding industry advocacy efforts, we also work on behalf of larger hedge fund managers, many of whom are based in Connecticut.”

In March, the firm elected public relations executive Mitch Ackles as president. He replaced David Friedland, who was appointed as chairman.