Damien Courvalin, the former Goldman Sachs commodities executive who spent three years at Balyasny Asset Management, has joined PIMCO as a commodities portfolio manager, according to a report by eFinancial Careers.

Courvalin confirmed the move on LinkedIn, saying he joined the US asset manager in September.

The appointment marks Courvalin's return to a large institutional investment firm following his departure from Balyasny in March. At the multi-strategy hedge fund, he led its Commodities Intelligence Group during a three-year tenure.

Before moving to the hedge fund sector, Courvalin spent 16 years at Goldman Sachs, rising to managing director and becoming a prominent figure within the bank's commodities business.

His departure from Balyasny came alongside the exits of fellow former Goldman Sachs managing director and energy trader Max Iakovlev and colleague Toby Shephard. The three departures followed a 3.5% loss recorded by Balyasny during the week ending 6 March, although there was no indication that the departures were connected to that performance.

Balyasny's commodities operation continues to be led by Dan Deighton, another former Goldman Sachs managing director and risk manager, who oversees the firm's broader commodities business.