The Japanese earthquake may have hit computer-driven hedge funds hard, but Man Group continues to recruit in decent numbers for its London office, largely for AHL, its algo fund.

Man posted less than glowing results last week, but still has over 30 vacancies in London. They include AHL-based quantitative analysts, client portfolio managers, research technologists and algorithmic developers.

Man Group’s situation seems reflective of a number of larger hedge funds currently – recent events may have an impact, but hiring plans conceived after healthy inflows and a strong end to 2010 haven’t been scuppered.

This, of course, is excluding long-term plans for redundancies as a result of its acquisition of GLG last year, for which it’s earmarked $25m for the second half of 2011.

Demand from larger hedge funds has been strong this year, suggests Barry Seath managing director at London-based hedge fund recruiter Mirage, and recent macro shocks have had “little negative sentiment” on hiring plans.

Much of this may be down to a desire to capitalise on the number of prop traders coming out of investment banks. Brevan Howard has just hired three Goldman traders for its London office, after stating its intention to target this group, for instance.

It may also be replacement hiring. Alexandre Pigault, director of research at Allenbridge HedgeInfo says hedge funds are hiring to replace key staff who left to set up on their own.