Savina Boyadjieva and Stuart Brown Lead Wave of Senior Departures at Viking Global

Viking Global, the $55 billion asset management giant, is experiencing a notable exodus of veteran executives. Stuart Brown, the long-serving head of trading, is stepping away from the firm for a career break, marking yet another significant departure from the hedge fund’s senior ranks. What makes this transition noteworthy is that Brown’s exit is part of a broader pattern affecting the investment and operational sides of the organization, with prominent figures like Savina Boyadjieva, formerly heading investor relations, joining the growing list of leaders moving on to new opportunities.

The departures underscore shifting dynamics within Viking Global, which currently maintains a workforce of 275 employees. According to sources familiar with the matter, Brown will remain with the firm during a transition period to facilitate the handover of his responsibilities, though his exact departure date remains unconfirmed. The firm has declined to comment on the transition, and Brown was unavailable for discussion.

The Talent Migration: A Cascading Pattern of Exits

Brown’s departure extends a trend that has reshaped Viking’s leadership structure over recent years. Ning Jin, the former Chief Investment Officer, exited in August 2024 to establish Avantyr Capital, his own investment venture. On the operational front, Andrew Genser, who previously served as general counsel, transitioned to Avala Global—the fund managed by Divya Nettimi, a former Viking portfolio manager—during the summer of 2024.

The pattern continued into 2025, with Kevin Curtis, the former head of recruiting operations, joining Bobby Jain’s fund in September. Most recently, Savina Boyadjieva, who managed investor relations at Viking, became a partner at Joshua Kushner’s Thrive Capital, reflecting the firm’s difficulty in retaining senior talent across multiple functions.

From Tiger Cub to Market Underperformer: The Strategy Question

Viking Global belongs to the prestigious cohort of “Tiger Cub” hedge funds, a lineage tracing back to Julian Robertson’s Tiger Management. The fund operates alongside peers such as Tiger Global, Coatue, Lone Pine, D1, and Maverick in the long-short equity space. However, Viking distinguishes itself through a comparatively lower exposure to technology stocks—a positioning that carries both advantages and significant trade-offs.

This strategic orientation proved beneficial during market downturns, such as 2022, when tech-heavy portfolios suffered outsized losses. Conversely, when sector leaders like Nvidia, Amazon, and Microsoft dominate market rallies, Viking’s reduced technology weighting limits its upside participation. Last year, the fund delivered a return of approximately 8.6%, trailing both the S&P 500’s performance and several competing Tiger Cub vehicles. The year prior, Viking’s flagship fund posted returns below 9%, reflecting the ongoing impact of this structural positioning on absolute performance metrics.

The Leadership Challenge Ahead

Andreas Halvorsen, the billionaire founder of Viking Global, now faces the dual challenge of replacing seasoned executives while maintaining the fund’s market position. The accumulation of departures—particularly high-profile exits like Savina Boyadjieva’s transition to Thrive Capital—raises questions about organizational continuity and competitive positioning. Stuart Brown’s anticipated transition adds another layer to succession planning, requiring the firm to identify suitable replacements across critical trading and operational functions while navigating an increasingly competitive talent landscape in hedge fund management.