# From AQR Quant to Founder CIO: Brian Hurst’s Journey
This week, we had the privilege of speaking with Brian Hurst, the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of ClearAlpha. Brian’s career journey encompasses 21 years at AQR Capital Management, where he held various key positions such as portfolio manager, researcher, head of trading, and the firm’s first non-founding Partner. His remarkable experience in the financial industry has paved the way for him to establish ClearAlpha, where he continues to excel in his role as CIO.
## Insights from the Podcast
During our conversation with Brian Hurst, he shared valuable insights into the world of hedge funds and the evolving landscape of multi-strategy, multi-manager risk. He discussed the concept of portable Alpha, shedding light on why this approach has become increasingly significant in today’s market. Brian emphasized the importance of diversified risk management and highlighted the superior advantages of multi-strategy, multi-manager setups over traditional single-manager, single-strategy models.
If you’re interested in learning more about Brian Hurst’s favorite books and a detailed transcript of our podcast conversation, you can find the information on the [ClearAlpha website](https://www.clearalphatech.com/management/brian-hurst).
## Podcast Availability
You can listen to the full conversation with Brian Hurst, along with any additional podcast extras, on popular platforms such as [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-aqr-quant-to-founder-cio-with-brian-hurst/id730188152?i=1000683394928), [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UFhuacaecZB7gnJ2u8KoO?si=itBJsz_zQ0yVu663EHbaZw), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0PzN7r8NikAnOqP70DHhoJ0), and [Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/audio/2025-01-10/masters-in-business-brian-hurst-podcast).
## FAQ
**1. What is Brian Hurst’s background?**
Brian Hurst has an extensive background in the financial industry, with 21 years of experience at AQR Capital Management before founding ClearAlpha.
**2. What is portable Alpha?**
Portable Alpha is a strategy that aims to separate the Alpha component of a portfolio from the Beta component, allowing investors to generate excess returns regardless of market conditions.
**3. Why is multi-strategy, multi-manager risk gaining popularity?**
Multi-strategy, multi-manager setups offer enhanced diversification and risk management compared to traditional single-manager, single-strategy hedge funds, making them a preferred choice for many investors.
## Conclusion
Brian Hurst’s journey from AQR quant to Founder CIO at ClearAlpha exemplifies a successful transition in the financial industry. His expertise and insights into hedge funds and risk management shed light on the evolving strategies that are shaping the market today. Be sure to tune in to our next podcast with Jonathan Clements for more valuable discussions on personal finance and life satisfaction. Thank you for joining us on this insightful journey with Brian Hurst!