The Central Park Group, an independent investment advisory firm, has appointed James Hawkes, the former Eaton Vance CEO, to the its board. Hawkes joins Kenneth Whitney, senior managing director of The Blackstone Group, and others at CPG.

“Jim brings an incredible wealth of knowledge and wisdom, having led Eaton Vance as CEO for more than 11 years,” said Greg Brousseau, co-CEO of CPG. “Under his leadership, Eaton Vance was recognized as one of the most innovative asset management companies in the industry.”

CPG was founded by Brousseau and Mitchell Tanzman, co-founders and former co-heads of the UBS and Oppenheimer alternative investment businesses, to serve the growing demand for alternative investments among high net-worth and smaller institutional investors. The firm sources hedge fund, private equity, real estate and fund of funds managers, and has developed a platform of offerings for qualified investors.