US hedge fund North Rock Capital Management has hired Pierre Doulcet as a systematic equity portfolio manager in London, in what appears to be the first step in an expansion of its quantitative equities platform in Europe, according to a report by eFinancial Careers.

The report cites the UK Financial Conduct Authority's register as showing that Doulcet joined the firm on 8 July, having spent the past seven years as a portfolio manager at DWS Group, He previously held roles at BNP Paribas and Société Générale.

The appointment is understood to be part of a broader effort to establish a systematic equities business in Europe, with further hires potentially to follow.

North Rock is a subsidiary of Lighthouse Investment Partners and already operates long-short equity and capital markets businesses in Europe. The firm undertook a significant hiring push in London for those activities around three years ago.