OMERS Loses Equities, Alternatives Chief

Jack Mahler, former sr. managing director, OMERSThe head of equities and alternatives for Ontario’s public employee retirement system (OMERS) has left the organization, an OMERS spokesperson confirmed. 

Jack Mahler—a senior managing director and executive vice president—departed after seven years with the C$77 billion (US$60 billion) fund.

OMERS declined to say if it had selected Mahler’s replacement or launched a search. As of Wednesday afternoon, the organization’s website still featured Mahler among its capital markets leadership. 

His vacated role oversees a team of 30 investment professionals in Toronto, New York, and London, according to the website. This group internally runs four global equity portfolios and six hedge-fund-style strategies, as well as an external hedge fund program.

OMERS, along with most large Canadian asset owners, compensates investment staff  competitively with the private sector. Mahler’s boss Satish Rai—CIO of public markets—earned $2.5 million in 2015, including $500,000 in base salary and $1.3 million in long-term incentive pay. 

Prior to joining OMERS in 2009, Mahler held prominent roles on Wall Street. He led asset manager WP Stewart’s flagship mutual fund from 2005 to 2009, and spent four years as a Brown Brothers Harriman managing director. 

Mahler did not respond to a request for information on his future plans. 

Related: OMERS Strengthens Private Equity Team & Power 100 Profile: OMERS CIO Michael Latimer