Magazine issues » March 2018

BEHIND THE BUSINESS CARD: Still learning

Eleanor_WanEleanor Wan, BEA Union Investment Management Job title: Chief executive officer Previous company and job title: Chief executive officer, Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong. Years in the region: Since I was born in Hong Kong. What do you consider to be your home town? Hong Kong, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Educational background: I didn’t go to university after my commercial training, instead I continue my study in the University of Life. I am still learning now. First job in the industry: Thornton Investment Management as the marketing manager. It is now Allianz Global Investors. What is the toughest challenge you’ve faced in your professional life and what made it so challenging? When I joined BEA Union Investment Management in 2011, I found the infrastructure set-up was inefficient and could not support future growth. I proposed to change the front-to-back operation, a big-bang project. I was new and had to gain trust from the board, while also focusing on business development. What achievement are you most proud of? The commitment to build out the Asian fixed income capability of BEA Union Investment Management. It involved adding research capability and new systems for performance analysis. What advice would you give to someone who is beginning their career in the funds industry? Learn the basics to build a good foundation for future career development and think of adding value to the process in performing daily responsibility. If you could change one thing about the funds industry, what would it be? We should work harder on investor education. One should understand their investment objective before putting money into the market. What is your greatest ambition? To live a healthy, happy life. Best investment you’ve made? I invested in some studio apartments ten years ago. Property prices have gone up a lot. Tell us something about you that most people don’t know: I am rather a transparent person, there is not much that people do not know about me. If it is not known, it will be a secret! Favourite country to visit? Japan. Favourite type of food? When I travel, I miss Chinese food. Favourite book or film? My favourite book is Fit for Life. It talks about diet and recommends dietary principles. Your house is burning. Your family is safe. You have time to rescue one object. What would it be and why? My phone. It stores all my contacts and pictures that are not easy to restore. ©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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