Lessons from the middle: Leadership, resilience and the courage of conviction
The principles of high-performance leadership – whether in business or sport – remain remarkably consistent and include the ability to maintain clarity, integrity, and conviction under immense pressure. Former Australian test cricketer Usman Khawaja told the Fiduciary Investors Symposium that the only time you really lose is when you stop trying.
Steering portfolios through a fragmented world
As stagflationary shocks flip stock-bond correlations and the illiquidity premium in private markets proves elusive, the investors best placed to navigate a fragmented world are those with the governance infrastructure to deploy capital when others are forced to sell.
Private markets enter era of ‘true alpha’
Allocators are interrogating their private markets investments more rigorously as institutional investors question whether unlisted asset classes are entering an era of “true alpha” where managers skills are put to test. This trend is especially salient in private equity, and at FIS Singapore, asset owners and managers weighed the thesis around the asset class.
Germany’s largest pension fund VBL ups diversification; invests more abroad
Germany’s €70 billion pension provider VBL is increasing its diversification, notably investing in overseas real estate outside Germany for the first time. It’s also increasing its tilt to international equities over European stocks, enabled by an organisational and investment process overhaul.
Active management needed to navigate AI boom
AI dominates today’s portfolios, but the failures will outweigh the successes without genuine active management argues Loomis, Sayles & Company’s Aziz Hamzaogullari.
The Asset Owner Directory is an interactive tool to give readers an insight into the world of global asset owners. It includes key information for the largest asset owners around the world such as key personnel, asset allocation and performance.
| Fund Name | Country | AUM ($B) | Articles | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Malaysia – Khazanah Nasional | Malaysia | $36 | 7 | View Info |
Monetary Authority of Singapore | Singapore | $300 | 4 | View Info |
ABP/APG Asset Management | Netherlands | $709 | 157 | View Info |
San Jose Federated City Employees Retirement System | United States | $4 | 1 | View Info |
AP2, AP6 merger on track; currency impacts returns
In a big year, AP2 introduces a new asset management model and completes the integration of sister fund AP6 but the fund’s 2025 return feels the impact of a strong SEK on its global portfolio. Eva Halvarsson, AP2’s outgoing CEO, discusses the allocation and mandate changes and opportunities it presents.
Why allocators need a ‘continuous exploration’ mindset for AI adoption
Asset owners are seeing a major shift in data management and analytics as AI enables more efficient investment processes. CPP Investments and OPTrust outline how the technology is being progressively integrated into their funds.
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
This event looks at the challenges long-term investors face in an environment of disruption including ongoing geopolitical risk and shifts in global economic dynamics. By accessing faculty of Harvard’s esteemed university, this event will leave investors empowered to tackle disruption in their portfolios and working lives.
Fiduciary Investors Symposium
The Fiduciary Investors Symposium at Stanford University celebrates the fast-moving change taking place in economies and communities and will examine the impact of innovation on our lives, workplaces and investments.
West Yorkshire prepares to up the pressure on Shell and BP
A new approach to holding the major oil companies to account will see the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, together with a cohort of other UK and European pension funds, demand BP and Shell explain their business plans in a world of declining demand for fossil fuels.
Why active managers are mimicking the flaw of passive benchmarks
AI dominates today’s portfolios, but the failures will outweigh the successes without genuine active management argues Loomis, Sayles & Company’s Aziz Hamzaogullari.
CPP Investments, NBIM reflect on lessons from a 5-year transparency journey
The Global Pension Transparency Benchmark has been a driving force in improved transparency of disclosures and reporting among global asset owners. As the project comes to its close after five years, two leading funds reflect on why transparency has been a clear focus for their organisations.
Conflict in Iran: Investors mute the noise but inflation risk grows
Investors are watching conflict in the Middle East closely as inflationary pressures begin to build beneath the surface. One of the challenges for many investors is reduced exposure to the hedging benefits of fossil fuels in listed, and private markets.
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Texas Teachers’ CIO questions TPA, DAA value-add
Chief investment officer of the $225 billion Teacher Retirement System of Texas Jase Auby has voiced reservations about the total portfolio approach, particularly regarding the robustness of its central feature, the top-down decision-making process. He also outlined why the fund doesn’t consider dynamic asset allocation a durable source of alpha.
Aware Super mulls return to infra funds; builds AI-driven data edge
Aware Super is considering a return to infrastructure funds after years of favouring direct investments. The infrastructure allocation currently stands at $15 billion and the fund sees benefits to access a “broader set of offerings” and opportunity sets via fund commitments to GPs, its head of infrastructure Mark Hector says.
FIS 2026 at Raffles Singapore