Marketing Team

Concord Center
HMC's constant search for new investment partners is spearheaded by a dedicated team of professionals. Fund managers meet with potential investors only after relationship managers determine that an investor has a genuine interest and that the investor is qualified to invest in an HMC sponsored fund.

Charles D. Miller
Executive Vice President & Global Head of Distribution

Charlie Miller

Mr. Miller joined Harbert Management Corporation (HMC) in 1994 and became Executive Vice President & CFO in 2002 serving through 2011 when he became Executive Vice President & Global Head of Distribution. He also serves on the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Miller previously worked with Harbert Corporation, which he joined in 1985, and played a key role in that firm’s transformation from an operating conglomerate. During his career, he has served in various treasury and financial management roles, including Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Corporate Acquisitions. His current responsibilities at HMC include the management of all fund raising and investor relations activities, along with credit and treasury functions across the company. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Auburn University and has completed the Wharton Executive Program at the University of Pennsylvania on Financial Management.

Melissa M. Babb
Senior Managing Director

Melissa Babb

Melissa Babb is a Senior Managing Director in the Marketing Department of HMC and is responsible for sales and marketing in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States. Ms. Babb joined HMC in 2008, having served as a Managing Director of JPMorgan Private Bank covering high net worth clients in the Southeast. Before moving to Atlanta in 2004, Ms. Babb headed the Morgan Plus Investment Group of JPMorgan Private Bank in New York, the team that performs manager due diligence and reporting. In the 1990s, Ms. Babb was a capital markets specialist on the New York trading floor of JPMorgan Securities Inc. She began her Wall Street career in 1984 as a fixed income and derivatives specialist in New York and London with Merrill Lynch.

Ms. Babb holds an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business and a B.A. in Economics from Princeton University. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta. She holds FINRA Series 7, 8, 24 and 63 licenses. In October 2004, Ms. Babb was named one of “The Nation’s Top 100 Wealth Advisors” by Worth Magazine.

Michael J. Larsen
Senior Managing Director

Michael Larsen

Michael Larsen is responsible for sales and marketing from our office in London. Prior to joining HMC in November 2004 he spent more than 24 years in the financial services industry in a variety of senior sales and management roles, with more than 15 years in Europe, including two years as Executive Director and Head of Sales and Marketing at a leading Swiss alternatives manager. Prior to that Michael was a Business Manager for Citigroup Asset Management, with responsibility for a number of markets. Michael’s career with Citigroup and Citicorp spanned 20 years, with positions in New York, Bahrain, London, Zurich, and Geneva. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Boston University. Michael is registered with the UK Financial Services Authority and holds his FINRA/NASD Series 7 and 63 licenses.

Richard F. Brereton, Jr.
Managing Director

Rich Brereton

Based in HMC’s New York office, Rich Brereton is a Managing Director in the Marketing Department of HMC and is responsible for sales and marketing in the Eastern United States and Canada. Mr. Brereton joined HMC in 2011 from Boomerang Capital LLC, a hedge fund marketing partnership he joined in 2008. For the twelve years prior, he worked at Morgan Stanley, both in New York and London, rising to Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer in its investment management division. Prior to that, he held various marketing, product management and client relationship positions in New York and London at Bankers Trust and JP Morgan. He has spent more than 20 years specializing in the global distribution of traditional and alternative investment products. Mr. Brereton received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University in 1987 and he holds FINRA Series 7, 24 and 63 licenses.

Kenneth M. Freeman
Managing Director

Ken Freeman

Ken Freeman is a Managing Director in the Marketing Department of HMC and is responsible for sales and marketing in the Western United States and across Asia. He joined HMC in 2011 and is responsible for business development for the firm’s portfolio of hedge fund, private equity and real estate funds.

Prior to joining HMC, Ken was a partner with Knight Capital, a leading boutique placement agent and advisory firm. Before Knight Capital, he was with UBS Investment Bank and Citigroup Investment Bank, where he helped build the company’s private equity distribution platform in the Western United States and across Asia. Mr. Freeman holds a Masters of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts, where he graduated with honors. He holds his FINRA/NASD series 7 and 63 licenses and is a registered lobbyist in the State of California.

Lynette P. Horton
Managing Director

lhorton

Ms. Horton joined HMC in 2002 as a Managing Director. She is responsible for all aspects of marketing HMC’s private market and hedge funds. Before joining HMC, Ms. Horton had a 17 year career with NCR Corporation where she served as an Executive Account Manager in the major accounts Payment Systems Division of Financial Services. At NCR she was a member of the Century Point Club, which designates a multi-year consistent achiever and was also awarded national Salesperson of the Year. She is a member of the Board of the AROVA Contemporary Ballet. Ms. Horton received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama, and she holds FINRA/NASD Series 7 and 63 licenses.

 

Jerry M. Cain
Director

Jerry Cain

Based in HMC’s New York office, Jerry Cain is a Director in the Marketing Department of HMC and is responsible for sales and marketing in the Northeastern United States. Mr. Cain joined HMC in 2011 from Crossroad Capital Partners, a private equity marketing group he joined in 2007. Prior to HMC, Jerry spent close to three years with a mortgage banking group managing the Connecticut sales. Before that, he was a small business owner providing business event coordinating services to the pharmaceutical and financial services sectors. Mr. Cain received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Roanoke College.  He holds his FINRA/NASD series 7 and 66 licenses and is a registered lobbyist in the State of New York.