LEAD | GOOD RETURNS FUND MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2020
Fund Manager of the Year Awards 2020 2020 really put fund managers through their paces, writes Daniel Smith. The Fund Manager of the Year Awards 2020 provided recognition for the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. BY DANIEL SMITH
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ay what you will about 2020, it certainly was a year that had everything. Unstable world politics, market corrections and recorrections; not to mention a global pandemic. But through it all fund managers have been working tirelessly to achieve the best possible returns for their clients. This is why it has been so important to recognise those fund managers who went above and beyond over the year. Last year, more than any other, special fund managers stood out from the crowd. The Research IP / Good Returns Fund Manager of the Year Awards are a testament to those in the industry who push the boat out a little further, while bringing in great returns for their clients. The awards are powered by Research IP and FE fundinfo data. They are based on one-year returns and a number of other factors that ensure the winners and funds shortlisted in each category are not “one-hit wonders”, but take into account the many different qualities required for a successful fund manager to operate. Research IP managing director Darren Howlin has said that a major theme for 2020 was “resilience of fund managers”. “When I say resilience I mean that in more than just the perspective of looking at a fund’s returns. Also within the businesses themselves [which] faced a very confronting year in 2020. The market activity has been well documented. But what isn’t often documented is the work that goes on behind the scenes by the fund managers. It is the sustainability and persistence of the fund management operations which allow these funds to continue through the difficulties.” This belief in the central role of the fund manager in guiding investors 16 | ASSET 02 | 2021
through tough times has meant that these awards have a special importance when reflecting on 2020. The big prize of the night went to ANZ Investments who took out the Fund Manager of the Year award. Since 2016 ANZ Investments have consistently been shortlisted, finalists and winners in several sectors, and richly deserved the win in 2020. In a turbulent year ANZ Investments have again shown strong performance across the sectors, taking away the top award. Howlin says that though ANZ thoroughly deserved the victory it was an incredibly close race, with many of the shortlisted funds only missing out by a small margin. “What allowed ANZ to push past the other finalists into the top award, was probably their consistency across the year.” Paul Huxford, chief investment officer at ANZ Investments said, “We are really pleased to have received that external recognition. The Fund Manager of the Year award is a reflection of our entire team. We have a team of 38 investment professionals under one roof looking at many asset classes, so [we’re] thrilled to get some external recognition for all of the hard work the team has done.” Huxford said that while 2020 had many ups and downs, it also offered lessons for the team at ANZ. “Our focus on quality assets and diversification proved their worth during difficult market conditions. There are plenty of learnings to take from 2020, but essentially we are pleased to see that our investment philosophy has held up under volatile market conditions.” For the second time running the category of Adviser Choice was a key part of the makeup of the awards. We asked industry members to tell us who
‘What allowed ANZ to push past the other finalists into the top award, was probably their consistency across the year’ Darren Howlin
they think deserved recognition, because we know that no one knows the strength of the industry like those working in it. Singled out by many was the work of Fisher Funds KiwiSaver. In a rough year, where many clients were concerned about their savings the team at Fisher Funds stepped up and delivered for their clients. Senior portfolio manager, Ashley Gardyne, said “It was a real honour to receive the Adviser Choice award and be recognised by the advice community for our investing capabilities in 2020. These awards are always extremely competitive. I’m really pleased that our
