Brevan Howard, one of the largest hedge funds in the world, has hired a former top executive at rival Fortress Investment Group to lead its risk business, The Post has learned.

The $40 billion investment company tapped Hilmar Schaumann as its US head of risk on Oct. 1, Max Hilton, a Brevan Howard spokesman, confirmed to The Post.

Gordon Runte, a spokesman for Fortress, said Schaumann left the hedge fund earlier this year. Schaumann joined Fortress in 2010.

Prior to his tenure at Fortress, Schaumann founded the hedge fund Deister Capital, where he also served as chief investment officer, according to a biography from the Professional Risk Managers’ International Association. He started his career as a trader at Deutsche Bank.