Christopher Plunkett

Christopher Plunkett is a Director of Technology and Portfolio Manager at Water Island Capital LLC, a New York-based asset management firm specializing in event-driven strategies such as merger arbitrage. In his current role, he combines expertise in portfolio management and technology, overseeing the development and execution of sophisticated investment products—including the AltShares Merger Arbitrage ETF, which leverages a proprietary index methodology to capitalize on M&A-related opportunities.

Plunkett’s investment focus centers on event-driven equities, with a primary emphasis on merger arbitrage, special situations, and corporate actions across global markets. His mandate includes both developing technology infrastructure to support these quantitative strategies and managing portfolios that seek low-correlation, market-neutral returns for institutional and retail investors.

Throughout his tenure at Water Island Capital, Plunkett has played a pivotal role in bridging investment management with technology, driving advances in risk control, index construction, and operational efficiency. He is recognized for helping modernize and scale the firm’s flagship products, contributing to Water Island’s reputation as a leader in alternative investment solutions, particularly within the merger arbitrage and event-driven space.