Stockholm (HedgeNordic) – Lynx Asset Management is undergoing a leadership change as Svante Bergström, one of the firm’s three co-founders, steps down from his long-time role as CEO. Martin Källström, who has played a key role in the firm’s strategic direction since joining in 2018, will take on the CEO role starting September 1. Bergström will transition to the role as Chairman, where he will remain actively involved in strategic decisions and continue as a portfolio manager of the Lynx Program, which oversees $6.5 billion in assets.

“This transition has been in the works for several years, and as I now step into the CEO role, I feel well-prepared to lead the company,” says Källström, promoted to Deputy-CEO in early 2023. “Svante’s leadership over the past 25 years has been marked by a commitment to fostering a culture where curiosity, accountability, and a genuine passion for what we do drive our success,” he commends Bergström’s leadership. “He has always believed in empowering talented individuals to collaborate and innovate, and that’s something I’m committed to continuing.”

“This transition has been in the works for several years, and as I now step into the CEO role, I feel well-prepared to lead the company.”

Martin Källström, CEO of Lynx Asset Management starting September 1.

Bergström co-founded Lynx Asset Management in 1999 and has since transformed the firm into the largest hedge fund manager in the Nordic region and a leading player in the global trend-following CTA industry. “Lynx has never been just a typical hedge fund manager, and that’s a direct reflection of Svante’s influence,” Källström highlights Bergström’s impact. “The values of humility, generosity, client-first approach, and professional thoughtful decision-making have been at the core of our firm,” he emphasizes. As he takes on the CEO role, Källström says his “focus will be on preserving these values while pushing forward with new, creative strategies that keep us ahead and deliver exceptional results for our clients.”

Martin Källström: The Next CEO of Lynx Asset Management

Martin Källström joined Lynx Asset Management in September 2018 as a partner and senior managing director after more than a decade as Head of Alternatives at Första AP-fonden (AP1). As a member of Lynx’s executive management team, he has been involved in the most important decisions shaping the firm’s direction and has helped preserve its values, ideals, and vision as it has grown. “Honestly, Svante and I have worked so closely together over the past few years that the developments and initiatives we’ve undertaken are ones we’ve both believed to be the right direction,” says Källström. “With Svante continuing as Chairman and me stepping in as CEO, there won’t be any radical shifts.”

“Svante and I have worked so closely together over the past few years that the developments and initiatives we’ve undertaken are ones we’ve both believed to be the right direction.”

Martin Källström, CEO of Lynx Asset Management starting September 1.

The team at Lynx Asset Management believes in incremental change and innovation, rather than drastic overhauls, contends Källström. “My primary focus will be to continue building on the strong foundation we’ve established, ensuring that our strategies evolve steadily and that we remain aligned with our long-term goals,” he states. Källström sees the future of active investment strategies in public markets increasingly dominated by systematic managers. “The industry is clearly moving in that direction, driven by, powerful computing that enables sophisticated adaptive algorithms, the rise of electronic trading and an overwhelming explosion of data that no human could fully process,” he explains. 

“I believe large systematic managers, with the financial resources to invest in research, data, and technology, will continue to gain an edge, especially in markets deep enough to support their significant assets under management.” The business philosophy at Lynx Asset Management involves reinvesting management fees back into the firm, thereby aligning the firm’s interests with its clients “by participating in performance fees and co-investing alongside them in our investment programs,” according to Källström.

“Making sure our flagship program continues to strive is of the greatest importance for Lynx.”

Martin Källström, CEO of Lynx Asset Management starting September 1.

“We’ve set a clear vision and strategy for the future, and that is already in motion,” points out the soon-to-be CEO. He notes that a new team at Lynx Asset Management has been working on developing a new systematic equity hedge fund since 2023. With the firm’s product lineup currently featuring the Lynx Program, Lynx Constellation, and Lynx Systematic Macro, the systematic manager’s goal is to offer a range of systematic strategies that cater to diverse investment goals and preferences. Källström’s and the firm’s goal is to “broaden our scope somewhat.” However, he emphasizes that “making sure our flagship program continues to strive is of the greatest importance for Lynx.” The Lynx Program, with $6.5 billion in assets under management, is one of the world’s largest, longest-running, and most successful trend-following strategies.

“It’s important to recognize what we excel at,” concludes Källström. “Today, we manage one of the world’s leading trend-following CTA programs with a very competitive track record,” he adds. Källström is confident that the environment for trend-following has significantly improved in recent years, making it an attractive strategy, albeit one that comes with volatility, he acknowledges. “While it may not deliver strong returns every year, its complementary return profile is hard to beat over time.”