New! - Hedge Fund Consultant of the Year
Nominees will have helped craft innovative hedge fund investment programs for institutional investors; given shrewd advice, especially in a down market; and will have proven their ability to explain complex hedge fund strategies to investment boards.

New! - Outstanding Contribution
Honoring an individual for their outstanding contributions to the industry over the past year.

Launch of the Year
Which fund launch made the most noise last year? Performance will be taken into consideration but on the whole this award is about the overall impact of the launch. Was there something revolutionary about the strategy? Did the fund set records with the amount of money it attracted? Was there something unique about the fee structure, or some innovative way that a service is being created for the fund's investors? In short, was the launch a conversation piece in the industry?

Emerging Manager of the Year
This award recognizes an up-and-coming fund that is not a household name but that people are excited about. The manager will have generated quiet buzz among his or her investors, but not only for performance reasons.

Hedge Fund Leader of the Year
The hedge fund firm that was above and beyond its competitors in performance, reputation, innovation and the overall value it created for its investors.

Fund of Hedge Funds Leader of the Year
The fund of funds firm that was above and beyond its competitors in performance, reputation, innovation and the overall value it created for its investors.

Public Pension Fund Investor of the Year
This award goes to a public pension manager at the forefront of alternatives investing. The award winner will have demonstrated in-house expertise through the fund's performance, by engaging in new financing techniques, keeping fees low, using seeding programs, gaining access to and using emerging firms, and effectively managing risk.

Corporate Pension Fund Investor of the Year
This award goes to a corporate pension manager at the forefront of alternatives investing. The award winner will have demonstrated in-house expertise through the fund's performance, by engaging in new financing techniques, keeping fees low, using seeding programs, gaining access to and using emerging firms, and effectively managing risk.

Nonprofit Investor of the Year
This award goes to a foundation or endowment at the forefront of alternatives investing. The award winner will have demonstrated in-house expertise through the fund's performance, by engaging in new financing techniques, keeping fees low, using seeding programs, gaining access to and using emerging firms, and effectively managing risk.

Institutional Manager of the Year
Candidates are the alternatives efforts of institutional financial services firms. This award recognizes platforms and looks at factors such as comprehensiveness as well as innovation.