Magazine issues » June 2018

BEHIND THE BUSINESS CARD: Team spirit

Mark_EnglandMark England, State Street Job title: Head of asset management and insurance, sector sales, Asia Pacific, State Street Previous company and job title: Head of asset management sales, Citi Investor Services Years in the region: Eight What do you consider to be your home town? Brisbane Educational background: B. Arts, University of Queensland First job in the industry: Prime brokerage middle office, Merrill Lynch, London What is the toughest challenge you’ve faced in your professional life?
Reducing headcount. While it is never personal, it’s such a personal process to work through. I’ve had experiences where people have been genuinely grateful down the track, as they’ve moved on to something they were better aligned to. But it is something all professionals find very tough. What achievement are you most proud of?
I’ve had the opportunity a couple of times to shape a team over a period of years. Pulling together people with complementary skillsets and then setting an agenda they buy into is hugely rewarding. What advice would you give to someone who is beginning their career in the funds industry?
Be patient and understand the fundamentals. Find a firm whose aspirations seem to match yours, and stick with them. If you could change one thing about the funds industry, what would it be?
There is still a lot of complexity where there doesn’t need to be, and transparency is still an issue. What is your greatest ambition?
To raise kids that have ambition, balance and passion, and to share their experiences. Best investment you’ve made?
In 1990, I bought two bottles of Penfolds Grange Hermitage for $80. A 1982 and a 1983. I was looking at their valuations at auction in about 2005 or 2006 and the returns were amazing. I drank both bottles sequentially with my wife and my folks over dinner. Tell us something about you that most people don’t know: I just don’t like abalone. Favourite country to visit? Spain. Favourite type of food? Right right now it’s Sichuan Chinese. Favourite book or film? Pulp Fiction. It has everything. Your house is burning. Your family is safe. You have time to rescue one object. What would it be and why?
The family photos. Kids grow so quickly, and I love to trawl back through those memories even though my kids are still only young. ©2018 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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