Magazine issues » June 2017

BEHIND THE BUSINESS CARD: Lucky lady

Fanny_WongName? Fanny Wong

Job title? Head of custody, deputy general manager, Global Transaction Banking. Previous company and job title? Head of securities and fund services, Hong Kong, Citibank. How many years in the region? More than 20. What do you consider to be your home town? Hong Kong. Educational background? MBA, Heriot-Watt University. Bachelor of social sciences, University of Hong Kong. First industry job? Business development manager, custody and clearing services, Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong. What is the toughest challenge you’ve faced in your professional life?
Although it was 13 years ago, I have vivid recollections of a pitch made to a government body in Taiwan to bid for their pension assets under a public tender. Each candidate was given 15 minutes. Our global deck comprised more than 50 pages of slides in English, and the presentation had to be in Mandarin. Neither is my mother tongue and the time pressure was daunting. It was a miracle we won the mandate, which came despite my failure to cover the last ten pages! What achievement in your job are you most proud of?
Being granted a personal achievement award by The Asset as the ‘custodian banker of the year, Hong Kong’ in 2015. What advice would you give to someone who is beginning their career in the funds industry? Keep an open mind and learn as you go. Nothing is too mundane and nothing should be below your dignity. This is a worthwhile industry which provides immense growth opportunities, so you are lucky. If you could change one thing about the industry, what would it be? To centralise the transfer and registration of funds. What is your greatest ambition? To live my life to the fullest because it is short. What’s the best investment you’ve made? To groom the next generation of practitioners so as to leave a certain impact. Tell us something about you that most people don’t know? Believe it or not, I enjoy knitting. Favourite country to visit for a holiday? New Zealand for its natural beauty and tranquility. Favourite type of food? Sandwiches as they are reasonably handy and fulfilling. Favourite book or film? Lonely Planet guidebooks. Your house is burning. Your family is safe. You have time to rescue one object. What would it be and why? For sure, it would be my ID card. 2017 funds global asia

Industry comments

Investing in tomorrow’s world

investmentAt times like these, HSBC Asset Management easily pivots towards emerging markets.

The spotlight on growth markets and the need to be nimble and dynamic is ever-sharper, given the difficulty in predicting monetary policy in the world’s major nations.

Sponsored feature: Navigating the complexities of FX execution and currency risk

A comprehensive, cost-effective, and transparent currency overlay hedging solution is crucial to mitigate FX exposure risks in the complex landscapes of Japan and China's FX markets, explains Hans Jacob Feder, PhD, global head of FX services at MUFG Investor Services.

Opinion

Transitioning to an era of scarcity

The world is transitioning from an era of commodity abundance to one of undersupply. Ben Ross and Tyler Rosenlicht of Cohen & Steers believe this shift may result in significant returns for commodities and resource producers over the next decade.

Asia credit: An outsized winner in the region’s energy transition?

Ross Dilkes, fixed income portfolio manager at Wellington Management, examines the opportunities and risks for bond investors presented by the region’s decarbonisation agenda.

A quiet revolution in Japan’s corporate governance

revolution, Japan, corporate governance, Shareholders, corporate, governance, standards, improvement, Tetsuro Takase, SuMi TrustShareholders in Japan no longer accept below-par corporate governance standards. Changes are taking place, but there are still areas for improvement, says Tetsuro Takase at SuMi Trust.

Why rising demand for healthcare is creating investment opportunities in China

rising demand, healthcare, investment, opportunities, China, Robert St Clair, Investment Strategy, Fullerton Fund ManagementRobert St Clair, head of investment strategy at Fullerton Fund Management, explores the reasons investors should be paying attention to the rising demand for healthcare in China.

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