David Walsh – David is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer and has been involved in the alternative investment industry since 1989. David has managed money both from a systematic and discretionary standpoint, as well as having experience in a bank treasury environment. Having initially been hired by Gandon Financial Fund Management in Dublin, he worked as a Proprietary Trader in Foreign Exchange, utilising an array of technical and fundamental tools in recording consecutive profitable years throughout his time at the firm. He was subsequently hired by ABN AMRO in 1992 as a Senior Dealer where his mandate was to initiate a proprietary trading effort to complement their existing market making business. In January 1995, the desire to return once more to fund management led to his joining Appleton as Head of Trading, where he immediately implemented a systematic investment methodology in the global currency markets. Since inception, he has held ultimate responsibility for all investment management funds and programs and oversees all ongoing research and trading activities. He has extensive experience across markets including foreign exchange, futures, equities and commodities. In 1999, he led the management buyout of the firm in conjunction with the other principals and is the single largest shareholder. David holds a B.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Limerick, Ireland, where he presented his thesis on the development of a price-based forecasting system for the interest rate futures markets.

Jeremy O'Friel – Jeremy is Sales and Marketing Director and is responsible for global business development and client relations strategy and operation. Having joined the firm in 1996, Jeremy worked initially on the execution desk before moving full-time into a sales role. He has won mandates from the wide range of client classifications that make up Appleton’s customer base, including pension funds, private banks, investment banks, intermediaries and high-net-worth investors. He is also heavily involved in the alternative investment industry and has sat on the Managed Funds Association’s Communications and Foreign Relations Committees. In the course of this, he was a regular contributor to the MFA Reporter magazine with articles related to alternative investments in general. He has also been a contributor to the Financial Times USA and various other trade magazines and journals. Jeremy graduated from University College, Dublin, with a B.Comm (Hons) and a Masters in Business from the Graduate School of Business. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, having completed the syllabus between 1999 and 2001. With David Walsh, Jeremy completed the management buyout of the firm and sits on the Board of Directors with his partners.


Simon Stroughair – Simon is Research Director and has been with Appleton since 1999. He is responsible for the ongoing research and development of the currency markets and trading programs. Throughout his time with Appleton, Simon has also been instrumental in the ongoing research into advanced volatility and trend based forecasting systems. He joined the firm from Lehman Brothers in London, where he had worked as a Structurer and Product Manager on the FX Options and Interest Rate Derivatives desks. Prior to embarking on his career in the financial markets, Simon enjoyed a remarkable academic career at Trinity College Dublin, where he earned a First Class Honours Degree (B.A. Mod) in Theoretical Physics. In the course of his studies, he was awarded a Foundation Scholarship, the highest award available to an undergraduate. In 1994, the Minister of Education presented him with the James Connolly Memorial Scholarship for outstanding achievement in the joint fields of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Simon was also selected to attend the International Mathematical Olympiad on the basis of his results in the annual American High School Mathematics Examination (AHSME). Aside from his work with Appleton, Simon is also an accomplished organist. Having won 1st prize in 2002 at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, he made his debut recital in 2004. Simon was made a partner in Appleton in 2004.

Fergus Walsh – Fergus is fully responsible for all of Appleton’s business development efforts in Europe and the Middle East. Having joined the firm in 2001, he was made a partner in 2004 in recognition of his work over the preceding three years. Specifically, Fergus has won mandates from the largely institutional client base that make up the bulk of Appleton’s business in the region. He has also spent time working on Appleton’s trading desk. Fergus joined the firm from Tellabs, where he served as Human Resource Manager from 1999 to 2001. Prior to that, he was involved in the HR department of Shannon Aerospace. Having spent two years as a Contract Lecturer at the University of Limerick from 1997 to 1999, he continues to give guest lectures at the University. Most recently, he presented a course on Alternative Investments to the faculty of Business Studies. His involvement with UL stems from his postgraduate and undergraduate work. Having earned his Bachelor of Business Studies in 1995, he went on to earn a Masters in Business also from the same school.