One of the top junk bond portfolio managers is leaving Janus Capital to start a hedge fund shop. Sandy Rufenacht, portfolio manager of the $1 billion Janus High-Yield Fund and the $468 million Janus Short-Term Bond Fund since 1996. One of his efforts at the new firm will be to land subadvisory mandates, according to published reports.

Rufenacht plans to open the new next week on July 18. It will be called Three Peaks Capital and will be headquartered in Denver. There are reports that Rufenecht hopes other members of Janus' high-yield team, which includes Mary Cooper, Craig McMullen and Adrian Shopp, will join him at Three Peaks.

Meanwhile, Janus has reportedly hired Michael C. Buchanan from BlackRock to replace Rufenacht. He is expected to take the helm of the fund on Monday. Buchanan is the co-manager of the BlackRock High Yield Bond Fund. Janus had time to seek a replacement as Rufenacht gave notice of his resignation on May 19. 

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