A Fund Of Relevence

MICHAEL GREENALL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, SOUTH-EAST ASIA BUSINESS OF VALUE PARTNERS ASSET MANAGEMENT MALAYSIA, TELLS MICHAEL OH WHY THE FUNDS MANAGEMENT STANDS OUT FROM THE REST.

- Michael Oh

On reflection, what do you consider the defining moments in your first 100 days in this position?

After spending almost 30 years of my career in Equity Research and sharing ideas with fund managers, I ‘jumped over the fence’ and I am now on the receiving end of equity ideas. I realized early that I had a steep learning curve to ‘fund speak’. Additionally, I was setting up Value Partners’ Malaysia office from scratch – hire staff and, at the same time, deal with interior designers, construction, IT, building managers and various other people. I was fortunate, however, that I could draw from my past experience in setting up offices for Baring Securities, Caspian Securities and BNP Paribas Research. As for hiring, I took the decision to hire executive staff who were experienced and smarter than me (I always believe in hiring people smarter than me, so I enrich my learning experience). By the grace of God, I found a pristine office location in Integra Tower, The Intermark, and managed to hire my dream team. By the end of 2018, we received our fund management license from the Securities Commission and we started operations from our new office on the first working day of 2019.

What do you regard as the crucial factors for you to stay on top of your game?