Investor Profile

Indepth interviews with CIOs about their investments, staff and external providers.

The Latest

Investor Profile

Brunel’s plan for a new financial system

The UK’s £30 billion Brunel Pension Partnership is taking investing in a carbon zero future to a whole new level. It has just published a far-reaching Climate Change Policy filled with actions and deadlines linked to the goals of the Paris Agreement. At its heart lies a bold ambition to shape and push the whole investment industry to prepare for a carbon zero future.

Sarah RundellJanuary 28, 2020

Investor Profile

External equity: A worry at Wellcome

The £26.8 billion Wellcome Trust continues to reduce its allocation to external equities managers as the investment committee focuses on currency exposures, ESG and hedge funds,the impact of low interest rates and the position of the credit cycle in 2020.

Sarah RundellJanuary 20, 2020

Investor Profile

CalPERS board’s divestment dilemmas

The merits of tracking divested dollars, and the value of data illustrating what the pension fund has missed out on was the topic of much debate at the December CalPERS board meeting. In 2021 the fund will review six divestment programs across tobacco, firearms, coal, Iran, Sudan and emerging market equity principles.

Sarah RundellJanuary 14, 2020

Investor Profile

Insurance giants push for more impact

The experience of the collaboration between six large US insurers to successfully invest in affordable multi-family rental housing is a lesson for any institutional investor looking to impact investing.

Sarah RundellJanuary 12, 2020

Investor Profile

Sunsuper shrugs off private market froth

Sunsuper investment chief, Ian Patrick, is buying unlisted assets despite record prices that are set to climb even higher as super funds scramble for yield.

Elizabeth FryJanuary 10, 2020

Investor Profile

Helmsley puts liquidity centre stage

The CIO of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, Rosalind Hewsenian, has crafted a straight forward, contrarian strategy with liquidity at its heart.

Sarah RundellJanuary 9, 2020

Investor Profile

CN takes on tech in hunt for talent

Marlene Puffer, president and chief executive at the $18 billion pension fund for Canadian National, says the fund has some natural advantages in the hunt for talent.

Sarah RundellJanuary 8, 2020

Investor Profile

Hawaii expands CRO strategy

The new CIO at the Hawaii state pension fund is looking for additional sources of uncorrelated return, including hedge funds, and will look to add new managers to the lineup. Sarah Rundell talks to Elizabeth Burton.

Sarah RundellDecember 10, 2019

<2of68>

More Content

Investor Profile

Liquidity, rebalancing reign at PSERS

Cash is king right now, according to CIO of the $66 billion Pennsylvania School Employees’ Retirement System, Jim Grossman, and he’s got plenty of it. The fund has a very diversified asset allocation, with about half the portfolio invested in liquid assets and Grossman and his team are working hard to make sure that the strategic allocations are maintained.

Amanda WhiteApril 6, 2020

Investor Profile

France’s FRR prepares to ramp up equity

The French SWF, FRR, is preparing to invest more in equities and illiquid assets as important reforms extend its time horizon. With the coronavirus crisis delaying the asset allocation decisions the fund is operating in an "intermediate context", slowly shifting out of bonds and into equities.

Sarah RundellApril 2, 2020

Investor Profile

PFA navigates corona storm

In the six months Kasper Lorenzen has been CIO of the Danish fund, PFA, he has made moves in investment and decision-making that have resulted in the fund weathering the short-term coronavirus storm. He is however, wary of the long-term structural changes particularly to patterns of globalisation.

Sarah RundellMarch 18, 2020

Investor Profile

Oregon PE revamp shakes off GFC legacy

Oregon Investment Council has committed to investing $3 billion a year in private equity, with the smooth pacing strategy part a response to the fund’s overweight position to poor performing vintages as a result of its allocations before and after the GFC. The investor is also focusing on manager relationships with a focus on accessing new relationships and upsizing the best existing ones; and a new strategy that sees no provider in charge of more than 5 per cent of the portfolio.

Sarah RundellMarch 2, 2020