AllianceBernstein has boosted its alternatives business with the appointments of senior vice presidents Christopher Bricker and Michael Gaviser, as head of business strategy and head of sales and client service respectively.

Gaviser has been with AllianceBernstein for 14 years, most recently as co-head of alternatives sales and client service with John Akkerman. Akkerman has left the firm to “pursue another opportunity,” according to a statement.

Bricker, a 20-year AllianceBernstein veteran, will assume “overall responsibility” for the $13 billion alternatives platform, which includes multi-manager strategies, proprietary hedge funds and closed-end drawdown funds. He will also remain head of product development.

Gaviser will lead the firm's client-facing efforts, which involves expanding and developing the team of alternatives advisors. He will partner with Bricker to develop the firm's alternatives strategy; they will report to Robert Keith, head of the global client group.

"Our alternatives business is a key priority for our firm and with the new leadership roles that Bricker and Gaviser will assume we are confident we can continue to expand our capabilities," Keith said. 

In other recent moves, John Weisenseel was hired as chief financial officer of AllianceBernstein last month. As a result, Edward Farrell, who had served as interim CFO since February last year, returned to his responsibilities as corporate controller and chief accounting officer.