Findings from A Meeting of Minds: Asset Management

Introduction:

The seventh Meeting of Minds Asset Management took place virtually on Thursday 17 September.

These Meetings bring together the Chief Executive Officers and Chief Operating Officers from substantial asset management firms – both retail and institutional. The goal is to provide a platform for these very senior men and women to address the big issues they are grappling with in the boardroom. The Meeting is Chatham House and thus participants are encouraged to speak openly and frankly and share insights and learning in the knowledge that any comments they might make will be non-attributable. This Meeting was held against the backdrop of the Coronavirus outbreak. 

The Format:

A Meeting of Minds Asset Management is a biannual strategic forum organised by Owen James in association with Lansons.

The half day (breakfast through lunch) is a blend of roundtable sessions addressing a pre-researched and pre-agreed agenda with open discussion led by objective and professional facilitators; keynotes provided by external speakers whose remit is to spark debate and encourage fresh and original thinking; plus structured networking.

We are pleased to report that even with the restrictions of the virtual format, the participants are still able to enjoy access to strategic insight and networking at the highest level. In addition, two external speakers are invited to provide keynotes which spark debate and encourage fresh and original thinking.

This document summarises the key issues raised during the roundtables held last month. The Meeting abides by the rules of Chatham House i.e. no names are given other than that of the facilitator and the expert who led each session. 

The Roundtable sessions were facilitated by:

• Danny Calogero, Board Director, Lansons
• Ralph Jackson, Lansons
• David Masters, Lansons 

We are very grateful for the time and energy they have expended on making the virtual Meeting of Minds: Asset Management a success and hope you will consider this report an interesting, thought-provoking and accessible read. As ever your feedback is much appreciated.

We would also like to thank the independent experts who were part of the sessions for sharing their knowledge and giving us their time and energy both in the run up to this Meeting and on the day. 

The Sponsors

We would like to thank our sponsors who made the Meeting of Minds possible. The following companies took part and their motivation for doing so is threefold:

• To be, and be seen as being, supportive of the industry.
• To understand the stresses and strains being placed on financial advisory firms and, where possible, respond to them.
• To talk openly with these business leaders with a view to ensuring that their businesses are strategically aligned.