ACR-Alpine Capital Research has hired Darryl S. Grayson as chief operating officer and national marketing director.

Grayson will oversee the firm's marketing and sales efforts to the financial intermediary and institutional channels.

He will expand the firm's distribution relationships with national and regional brokerage firms, independent financial advisers, and registered investment advisers. He will also target retirement plan sponsors, consultants, foundations, endowments and the pension fund community.

Grayson joins ACR-Alpine from Wilmington Trust, where he was director of external distribution for the firm's asset management division. He was responsible for relationship management, sales and product distribution for the Wilmington Funds and SMA strategies.

Prior to Wilmington Trust, he was senior vice president and national sales manager for Gabelli Asset Management where he oversaw the distribution activities of the Gabelli Funds and separately managed accounts through financial intermediaries and individual investors.

He has also held sales executive positions at Delaware Investments, Bankers Trust, and OppenheimerFunds.

"We are honoured to have someone with Darryl's background to lead our expanding distribution effort," says Nicholas Tompras, president and chief investment officer. "His 25 years of experience in marketing, wholesaling, and key account management will add significant value to bring the firm's investment expertise and results, which has been successful with high-net-worth investors to a wider audience."

"I have been seeking an opportunity to join a firm with a long-term track record that has been successful attracting assets, delivering investment results and is committed to expanding its distribution capabilities," says Grayson. "ACR has established a loyal client base by creating and promoting a customer intimacy model predicated on frequent client communication and transparency, traits today's investor community really admire."