THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER
OF INVESTOPS EUROPE 2019
brought to you by Global Custodian
WRAP-UP
EDITION
BlackRock and Vanguard discuss the future
of operations teams within asset managers
I
nvestment operations could displace the
front-office in becoming the battleground
for asset managers as the importance of the
middle- and back-office grows, according to a
senior Vanguard executive.
Speaking alongside BlackRock’s global
investment operations strategy and industry
engagement, the pair from the world’s two
largest asset managers discussed the future of
investment operations divisions at InvestOps
Europe.
“In this environment the impact of opera-
tions is getting more important,” said James
Kearney, head of global investment operations
at Vanguard. “I really hope that starting in
2020 this is the decade where operations
becomes sexy.
“Investment managers have found all the
alpha they could find, this is the battleground
where you are going to be able to make things
better.”
The comments concluded a conversation
where the importance of data, innovation and
being agile were discussed among investment
operations executives.
Continues on page 8