Stockholm (HedgeNordic) – Per Johansson is departing from Didner & Gerge, stepping down from his role as portfolio manager of the asset manager’s oldest and largest fund, D&G Aktiefond. Best known in the Nordic hedge fund industry as the founder and CIO of Brummer & Partners-backed boutique Bodenholm, Johansson’s tenure in this role spanned just over a year before the announcement of his departure. Jessica Eskilsson Frank, co-manager of two other D&G funds, is also bidding farewell to the asset manager as she transitions to a new role at the Seventh AP Fund, AP7.
“There are two highly valued managers who are leaving, which is very sad. They are valued employees and have been an asset to the company,” confirms Helena Hillström, the CEO of Didner & Gerge. “At the same time, I want to highlight the solid competence found in the fund teams and the strong investment culture and spirit we have at Didner & Gerge, which will guarantee continuity,” adds Hillström. “I want to wish Jessica and Per the best of luck in their new professional lives.”
“There are two highly valued managers who are leaving, which is very sad. They are valued employees and have been an asset to the company.”
Helena Hillström, the CEO of Didner & Gerge
Per Johansson joined Didner & Gerge as a co-portfolio manager of its flagship equity fund in early January 2023, alongside Simon Peterson, who has been managing the vehicle since 2019. Peterson will continue to manage D&G Aktiefond. Johansson is renowned as the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Bodenholm Capital, a boutique running an European-focused fundamental equity long/short strategy with a global mandate. In mid-April four years ago, the Stockholm-based hedge fund manager announced the decision to return capital to its investors and liquidate its funds. Johansson and a select group of former Bodenholm employees joined forces to launch Boden Capital in late 2020 before all joined Celina Fonder in February 2022.
“The equity fund is an iconic fund with an outstanding historical return,” remarked Johansson upon joining Didner & Gerge in early 2023. He described the task of managing this fund as “one of the most intriguing challenges in the industry.” However, after just over a year, Johansson is poised to depart from Didner & Gerge and relinquish his portfolio management role overseeing the nearly SEK 37 billion-fund. As suggested by in Swedish business magazine Dagens Industri, the departure reflects increasing tensions between the company’s founders and majority owners, Henrik Didner and Adam Gerge, and a new generation of portfolio managers. Didner & Gerge is presently undergoing a period of transformation, marked by the restructuring of the portfolio management organization into two distinct areas of focus: Team Nordic and Team Global.
