LSE Focal Point Podcast

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Kathy Kellert, the Head of Index Equity Product at Vanguard. Prior to her current role, she has worked across investment risk, asset allocation research, and corporate strategy, and previously led model portfolio development within Vanguard’s financial advisor business. Kathy holds an MBA from the University of Georgi...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Mike Zheng, a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley. Prior to his current role, he held senior positions at Deutsche Bank, including roles in Asia equity sales and hedge fund equity sales across London and Hong Kong. Mike holds an academic background from the London School of Economics and is a CFA, CAIA and FRM chart...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Joshua Adams, a Partner at OpenGate Capital. Prior to his current role, he trained as a chartered accountant, worked in corporate finance, and later joined Platinum Equity as part of its early European expansion. Josh holds a chartered accountancy qualification and is an avid sportsman, having played high-level cric...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Martin Kingston, the Executive Chairman of Rothschild & Co South Africa (Pty) Ltd and Partner of the Rothschild & Co Group with Responsibility for Africa. Prior to his current role, he was a chartered accountant at PwC, and worked at Morgan Grenfell, advancing to Executive Chairman and Head of Global Banking...

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point, where today we are joined by Vasco Litchfield, a Managing Director at Lazard. Prior to his current role, he worked at TV Globo, Rothschild Brazil, and Barings Brothers. Vasco holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Bristol and is passionate about mentoring young professionals and fostering curiosity in the next generation of finance lea...

Join us for another thoughtful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Mathew Masters, the CEO of Caledonia Investments. Prior to his current role, he worked in corporate finance at Grant Thornton and was seconded to a private equity firm before joining Caledonia nearly 20 years ago. Mathew holds a degree in Building Surveying from the University of Reading and is a regular speaker on...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Andrew DiGeronimo, the Managing Director and Co-Head of Partnership Solutions at Warburg Pincus. Prior to his current role, he was an Associate at PwC and Eurohypo AG, a Partner at LGT Capital Partners. Andrew holds a degree from the University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, and is actively involve...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Colin Armstrong, a Partner at Bain & Company in New York. Prior to his current role, he worked extensively across Bain’s Consumer Products, Operating Model, and M&A practices, focusing on divestiture transactions and advising clients across both EMEA and the US. Colin holds a BA in International Studies and...

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Russell Graham, the Head of Product Enablement Europe at Vanguard. Prior to his current role, he was a fixed income portfolio manager at BlackRock and began his career in Franklin Templeton’s management training program. Russell holds a BS in Finance from Santa Clara University and an MS in Finance from Golden Gate Un...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Sophia Damianou, the Managing Director of Evercore’s Private Capital Advisory group in London. Prior to her current role, she led fundraising and investor relations at Northleaf, CapeView, and Mesirow, after starting her career in Credit Suisse’s Prime Brokerage capital introduction team. Sophia holds an MBA from Co...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Helen Keen, the Head of UK Private Banking at Arbuthnot Latham. Prior to her current role, she was Managing Director at Coutts and also held senior positions spanning transformation and credit across private and commercial banking. Helen holds over 30 years of experience in the banking sector and is a dedicated lead...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Burkhard Boeckem, the Chief Technology Officer at Hexagon. Prior to his current role, he was the CTO of Hexagon’s Geosystems division and earlier led transformative innovations in industrial metrology and reality capture technologies. Burkhard holds a PhD in Geodesy from ETH Zurich, where he received the ETH Medal f...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Jan Olsson, the Managing Director and CEO of Deutsche Bank Nordic. Prior to his current role, he served as Head of Corporate Finance in the Nordic Region and as Assistant to a Deutsche Bank board member overseeing investment banking and corporate finance. Jan holds degrees from the London School of Economics, Pomona...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by William Hobbs, the Head of Multi-Asset Wealth at Barclays UK Wealth Management. Prior to his current role, he was an equity analyst covering the European retail sector and later pursued further study in economic development and history. William holds a Master’s degree in Economic History from the London School of Ec...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Paul Moody, the Managing Director of Global Partnerships and Client Solutions at CFA Institute. Prior to his current role, he was the Client Solutions Director at Aviva Investors and a pioneer of the UK’s first ESG fund product. Paul holds a degree in Economics and is a longstanding advocate for sustainable finance,...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Matthew Prest, the Managing Director and Co-Head of Europe at Moelis & Company. Prior to his current role, he was the Managing Director in the Corporate Finance Restructuring team at Close Brothers, the Director of Restructuring at M&G Investment Management, and a Senior Manager in the Restructuring team at...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Victor Lee Meng Teck, the CEO of CIMB Bank Singapore and CIMB Growth Markets. Prior to his current role, he held senior leadership positions at Citibank, Standard Chartered, and UOB, with extensive experience across corporate lending, transaction banking, and financial markets. Victor holds a degree in Materials Eng...

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Peter Spofforth, the Head of the European Team at Qatalyst Partners. Prior to his current role, he worked at Lloyds Banking Group in the Equity Capital Markets Division and began his career as a summer analyst during the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Peter holds a BSc in Mathematics from Warwick University...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Margaret Franklin, the President and CEO of the CFA Institute. Prior to her current role, she was President of BNY Mellon Wealth Management in Canada and held senior positions at Merit Private Wealth and Barclays Global Investors. Margaret holds a BA in Economics from McMaster University and earned her CFA charter i...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Steffen Pauls, the Founder and Co-CEO of Moonfare. Prior to his current role, he served as Managing Director and Head of Germany at KKR and co-founded the financial advisory firm firstfive AG. Steffen holds a PhD from the University of Trier and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Mannheim, and has also served...

Join us for another exciting episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Anthony Villis, the co-founder and managing director of First Wealth. Prior to his current role, he was the founder of Open Advice and the co-founder of Thrive Money. Anthony holds a Economics degree from the University of Bath and is the recipient of the title of the UK’s Favourite Independent Financial Advisor by Vo...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point, where today we are joined by Piyush Gupta, the CEO of DBS Group, Southeast Asia’s largest bank by assets. Prior to his current role, he had a distinguished 27-year career at Citigroup, holding various leadership positions. Piyush has been at the helm of DBS since 2009, steering the bank to global recognition as the world's best bank by num...

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Ted Low, the Head of Portfolio and Collateral Management at Clifford Capital Group, a Singapore-based infrastructure credit platform specialising in global infrastructure debt origination, distribution, and investment. Prior to his current role, Ted was a Senior Associate at Challenger MBK Fund Management and a Busine...

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point, where today we are joined by Sean Lee, the Co-founder and Group CEO of Marco Polo Marine, a Singapore-listed leading integrated marine logistics group. Prior to his current role, Sean has led Marco Polo Marine for almost two decades, driving its key focuses on ship chartering, shipyard services, marine transportation, and offshore wind energy....

Join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point, where today we are joined by Audra Low, the CEO of Clifford Capital Private Limited. Prior to her current role, she was the Head of Origination and Structuring at Clifford Capital and a Director of Project Finance at HSBC. Audra holds an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business and a degree from Nanyang Technological University. Recorded in Feb...