Pierre Andurand
Pierre Andurand | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Aix-en-Provence, France |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, hedge fund manager |
| Known for | Founder of BlueGold Capital and Andurand Capital; majority owner of Glory kickboxing organization |
Pierre Andurand (born February 1977) is a French entrepreneur and hedge fund manager overseeing nearly $2 billion in assets. Additionally, he holds the majority ownership of the global kickboxing organization Glory.
Early life
Born in Aix-en-Provence, France, Andurand spent part of his childhood on the French island of Réunion after relocating there at age eight with his family, before returning to Aix-en-Provence six years later. At seventeen, he moved to Toulouse to attend the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées, where he earned a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics. He further advanced his education with an MSc in International Finance from École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Paris.
In addition, Andurand holds MSc qualifications in Computer Science from Columbia University, Mathematical and Theoretical Physics from the University of Oxford, and Astrophysics from Queen Mary University of London.
During his early years, he was part of the French National Junior Swimming Team between 1993 and 1994.
Career
Following his academic pursuits, Andurand began his professional career as an oil trader at Goldman Sachs within their commodities division based in Singapore. He subsequently served as a Principal trader for oil at Bank of America in Singapore before taking on the role of trading manager at Vitol. After relocating to London in 2004, he became a partner at Vitol and was recognized as one of their leading traders, reportedly earning a $20 million bonus after an especially successful year.
Bluegold Capital
In October 2007, Andurand co-established the hedge fund BlueGold, where he acted as majority owner and Chief Investment Officer. The BlueGold Global Fund debuted in February 2008 with $300 million under management and eventually grew to a peak of $2.4 billion. The fund achieved impressive performance figures: 210% returns in 2008, 55% in 2009, 13% in 2010, and experienced a -34% loss in 2011. BlueGold ceased operations in April 2012, distributing nearly all capital back to investors following the founders’ decision to part ways.
Andurand Capital
In February 2013, Pierre Andurand founded Andurand Capital, concentrating on energy and commodity markets including oil and metals. The Andurand Commodities Fund ranked among the best-performing commodity hedge funds in 2013 by delivering a 25% return. In 2014, it achieved a net return of 38%, correctly predicting a steep drop in crude oil prices. By 2016, Andurand took a bullish position on oil during its downturn near $30 per barrel, resulting in a 22% gain that year.
As of June 2022, Andurand Capital manages $2 billion across various funds. Its flagship vehicle, the Andurand Commodities Discretionary Enhanced Fund, recorded a cumulative return of 162% up to June 2022 following an 87% increase in 2021 alone. Meanwhile, the $750 million Andurand Commodities Fund rose by 41% during the same timeframe.
2020 Covid-19 pandemic and world oil price slump
At the onset of the Covid-19 crisis in early 2020, Andurand swiftly identified its global implications and anticipated extensive lockdowns that would drastically reduce energy consumption. He positioned his funds to short oil prices accordingly. By mid-2021, as demand rebounded and supply growth decelerated, he shifted to a bullish outlook on oil. His Andurand Commodities Discretionary Enhanced Fund delivered annual returns of 154% in 2020 and 87% in 2021, with gains reaching 112% through April 2022. The older Andurand Commodities Fund posted a 36% increase in 2021.
Andurand Climate and Energy Fund
In July 2021, Andurand introduced the Andurand Climate and Energy Transition Fund, which aligns with the firm's commitment to sustainable energy investments. By January 2022, the fund achieved a 28% return, demonstrating increasing investor enthusiasm for environmental commodities.
Glory Kickboxing
Passionate about martial arts, Andurand established Glory World Series following financial difficulties faced by rival K-1 and the rejection of his acquisition proposal. In September 2016, Glory Sports International secured Series B funding, with Yao Capital—created by Chinese basketball icon Yao Ming—taking a strategic ownership position. Additional investors included Liberty Global and existing backers such as TwinFocus Capital Partners, aiding Glory’s international growth.
Personal life
Andurand married Evgenia Slusarenko in August 2011; the couple divorced in 2016. He later wed Elena Sereda in July 2019.