Gautam Sharma, the CEO of Brevan Howard’s digital assets division, has announced his departure after a five-year tenure, marking a significant change for the hedge fund’s rapidly growing crypto arm. Since its inception in 2021, Brevan Howard’s digital asset division has significantly expanded its reach and personnel. It currently manages approximately $34 billion in assets with a $2 billion portfolio under its watch. The division employs a highly skilled team comprising over 10 portfolio managers, 13 investment experts, and 15 blockchain engineers. Despite the company’s lack of immediate plans to replace Sharma, Chris Rayner-Cook, formerly from Coinbase, was promoted to Chief Investment Officer for digital assets in May. This move signals continued commitment to leadership within the division. Sharma joined Brevan Howard as head of principal investments and collaborated closely with co-founder Alan Howard, managing his family’s crypto and digital asset investments. Before joining Brevan Howard, Sharma served as COO at Steadview Capital and held various strategic roles at McKinsey. The departure remains undisclosed; Sharma himself has not issued public comment. Brevan Howard operates across key global locations including Jersey, London, Geneva, New York, and Hong Kong, employing over 1,000 individuals. Its digital asset funds achieved impressive returns in 2024, demonstrating the strong performance of the market due to favorable economic conditions and positive crypto trends. With senior roles within the crypto sector experiencing a surge in demand as traditional finance companies increasingly explore the blockchain space, these openings offer substantial career opportunities. These positions are primarily concentrated in areas such as quant analytics, decentralized finance, legal, and executive functions, while influencers often secure higher compensation. The high-paying roles come with inherent market risks.