Man Group merges quant units into $156 billion powerhouse as AI reshapes hiring

Man Group merged its two quantitative businesses, AHL and Numeric, into a single $156 billion unit called Man Systematic in June, a decision driven by advances in AI and an intense war for talent. The merger was unanimously approved by management committees, according to Chief Investment Officer Russell Korgaonkar, who said AI has profoundly changed how research is done. The unified platform offers better career advancement and larger opportunities, giving the firm an edge in recruiting. Deputy CIO Daniel Taylor noted that AI tools like Anthropic's Claude code have shifted hiring priorities, allowing humanities majors to work as quants while freeing researchers from time-intensive coding. Creative thinking is now a more relevant skill than traditional math or coding backgrounds.