The buy-side industry is undergoing unprecedented change. Challenged by new investment technologies and increasing competition, the role of a chief investment officer is evolving and becoming ever more complex. In order to stay ahead with today’s fast-moving markets and adapt to a new landscape, the CIO is required to constantly innovate.
Today’s buy-side leaders need a clear vision and investment purpose to stay competitive. They need a data-driven target operating model to manage cost and maximize performance. With our whitepaper, The Journey to Tomorrow’s Buy-side Operating Model, we explored four different paths firms have taken on their data and technology transformation journeys.
To go deeper, we sat down with leading CIOs to learn from the people behind these innovative buy-side journeys. Read about their greatest challenges and investment principles, and how technology will impact the future of the buy side.
“We have a bigger purpose that goes beyond asset management – our role is to be a strategic partner in the development of the local financial system.”
Mark Konyn
CIO
AIA
Mark has been the Group Chief Investment Officer at AIA Group Limited since September 1, 2015. He is currently responsible for providing oversight to the management of the investment portfolios as well as supervising and supporting the many investment professionals throughout the Group.
“Agility needs to be built into one’s investment view in order to achieve long-term sustainable performance.”
Lakshmi Iyer
CIO of Debt and Head of Products
Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company Limited
Lakshmi is CIO of Debt and Head of Products at Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co. Ltd – the sixth-largest mutual fund in India. Controlling AUM of approximately US$23.5bn, she makes excellence in investor relations a central part of her investment strategy in onshore and offshore assets.
“Machine algorithms don’t drive decisions – rather they augment understanding and risk management.”
John Livanas
CEO
State Super
John Livanas leads a team of experienced senior executives at State Super in managing the provision of member services and the investment of approximately $44 billion of assets. As a CEO of one of Australia’s oldest superannuation funds, his duty is to ensure that State Super is paying member benefits as a closed defined benefit scheme.
“We’re comfortable with being different and it’s very valuable being nimble in our region.”
Paul Carrett
CIO
FWD Group
Living in Hong Kong since 2007, Paul has more than two decades of experience in financial services. He leads FWD Group’s investment function across the Group, assisting with investment strategies and asset allocation while attending to the needs of stakeholders including policyholders, shareholders, ratings agencies and regulators.
“Many asset management companies are still trying to understand the engineering and scientific aspects of the AI technology — and it hasn’t been easy for them.”
Chi Kit Chai
Head of Capital Markets and CIO
Ping An Asset Management (Hong Kong)
Chi Kit Chai is the head of Capital Markets and CIO of Ping An Asset Management. He has been pivotal in revamping its capital markets investment platform and adopting Ping An’s technology-driven culture to build a world class leading AI quantitative platform utilizing neural network and machine learning.
“I feel most of the big leaps for technology [in asset management] have already been had, and the advances going forward will be more incremental.”
John Pearce
CIO
UniSuper
John Pearce is heavily involved in the investment decision-making of UniSuper’s $80bn superannuation fund. As a change-maker, he has been in-housing UniSuper’s portfolio management needs as it diversifies its investments.
“It’s hard to think of any industry that’s not currently disrupted or challenged by technology.”
Zaid Al-Qaimi
CIO
Kimera Limited
Zaid Al-Qaimi is the CIO of Kimera Limited, a boutique single-family office in Dubai that invests across all major asset classes. Since founding the office in 2017, he has overseen the diversification of its portfolio through global equity and bonds as well as direct and fund investments into private equity and venture capital.
“The best investment managers have an innate sense of curiosity and an investment instinct beyond the data and numbers.”
Virginie Maisonneuve
Former CIO
Eastspring Investments
Virginie is an innovative global investment leader with an extensive record of accomplishment. As CIO of Eastspring Investments, she was responsible for the management and performance of all of the firm’s investments, including equity, fixed income, asset allocation, private equity, infrastructure and onshore investments.
“I believe I have to be persistent and at the same time determined and steadfast to achieve all the goals that I have set for myself and my team.”
Norlia Mat Yusof
CIO
Etiqa Insurance & Takaful
Norlia is the chief investment officer (CIO) of Etiqa Insurance & Takaful, one of the largest insurance and takaful companies in Malaysia. Overseeing assets under management of RM37.5 billion (USD9 billion), she is a motivated professional who sees great growth potential in Shariah-compliant investments.