, CAIA, is a fund controller with Citco Fund Services (CFS), the largest hedge fund administrator in the world (as reported in HFN's most recent survey). In the latest Global Custodian Survey, CFS was "Top Rated," which has positioned it as an administrator of choice for many hedge fund and fund of funds clients.

A native of Zimbabwe, Blessing earned the CAIA charter in March 2010. He writes,"Earning the CAIA designation has allowed me to comprehend (what I initially thought to be) the complex world of alternative assets. For example, one of my largest clients is a hybrid fund, which is generically a hedge fund with a private equity structure. Had I not done the CAIA, the complexity intrinsic to these hybrid funds would not have been more tractable to my analytical skills. Furthermore, the CAIA designation has been highly instrumental in helping me understand the different aspects of the offering memorandum (especially the calculation of the payment waterfall, where the incentive fees are based on an IRR). There are so many advantages the CAIA has afforded so I will be succinct and just say it has become part and parcel of my life. The rather priceless CPE that I continue to receive is my "one-stop-shop" in terms of keeping abreast of developments in this intermittent and dynamic world of alternative assets."

Blessing's previous experience includes having worked in public accounting with Deloitte and in financial services specializing in hedge funds with RSM McGladrey. He also worked in industry and commerce as an internal audit manager for a life and property casualty insurance firm before moving on to becoming an internal audit manager for the Reserve Bank.

In addition to his CAIA designation, Blessing's relevant qualifications include a BCOMPT (HONS) degree from the University of South Africa and Certified Public Accountant licenses in both Virginia and Colorado. He is also a CFA charterholder.