GLOBAL – Barclays Global Investors has named Stan Beckers, the former president of BARRA International, to replace John Demaine as global alternatives head.

A spokeswoman confirmed that Beckers, a managing director at BGI and a visiting professor of finance at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, would take over from Demaine. Beckers, who joined BGI in May this year, will be head of the alternatives group.

Demaine was at BGI for some 10 years and was leaving for “lifestyle reasons”.

Chris Thomason, European managing director in charge of indexed products, is also leaving. His role would be absorbed by the team headed by Rory Tobin.

The departures follow the ousting last month of former co-CEO Andrew Skirton.