Investment advisory

Joanne leads business strategy, manager selection, due diligence, and asset allocation, specialising in private markets and hedge funds. Before joining in 2012, she worked at Moody’s in London covering credit ratings and operational risk ratings of alternative investments. She began her career in Equity Research at ABN Amro (Asia) Securities. Joanne holds an MSc in Finance from Cass Business School and an LL.M in International Business Law from Queen Mary, University of London, and is a British Chevening Scholar.

Odi has over 25 years of financial services and technology experience. He is responsible for Apex’s Digital Products Group, the group’s fintech and software division. He also chairs the investment panel and committee of the Apex investment consulting business. Prior to joining Apex, Odi was the COO and head of data and analytics of a UK listed financial services business. Previous roles include, CEO of an institutional investment consultant in the UK, head of the alternative investment group at a global rating agency and manager at the Canadian financial institutions regulator. He is an actuary and holds, a degree in Actuarial Science and Mathematical Statistics.

John Arthur has nearly 40 years’ experience within the defined benefit pension industry, including over 25 years at one of the UK’s largest inhouse pension funds as an investment director and 12 years working as an independent investment advisor to LGPS and corporate pension schemes and other institutional asset owners. John initially worked as an equity fund manager before becoming an independent investment advisor. He has worked on manager selection and strategic asset allocation mandates, as well as covering areas such as the use of derivatives, transition management, trustee training, and more recently investment into social housing.

Adrian was educated at Cambridge University and INSEAD and has worked in corporate financial management, as well as some 20 years in asset management, as a portfolio manager in equities and multi-asset. Since 2019, he has provided independent financial advice to LGPS funds, as well as board roles on a major DB pension scheme and an investment trust. His advice focuses on asset allocation, investment strategy, and portfolio construction.

Nicholas was educated at Oxford and Georgetown Universities. He has worked in the UK Civil Service, strategy consultancy, and for many years in the investment industry, where he managed equity portfolios and currency overlays and worked with a wide range of clients in the UK and overseas. He now serves as a trustee and investment committee member of a UK benevolent society.

Anthony has over 29 years’ experience as a fixed income investor and portfolio manager with market leading asset management companies; including Deutsche and Aberdeen Asset Management. He was responsible for investment strategy and tactical asset allocation for fixed income and multi-asset clients with benchmark driven and total return objectives. Anthony’s clients included LGPS and corporate pension schemes, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, and charitable foundations. For the last 5 years of his time at Aberdeen Asset Management, Anthony was a member of the consultative and chair of the Investment Committee of the Group Pension Plan and was responsible for investment policy and monitoring performance. Since leaving Aberdeen Asset Management, Anthony has built up a portfolio of clients and currently advises pension funds with a total AUM of £36 billion. As well as working with Apex Investment Advisors, where he has led manager selection processes for Global Green Infrastructure and multi-asset investment solutions for pension funds. He is a NED and chair of the investment sub-committee of a large UK corporate pension fund and a retained independent investment adviser to several LGPS. Anthony is FCA registered CF30 – Investment Advice.

Ashley studied Maths at Nottingham University, getting a BSc and an MSc, before qualifying as an actuary. For over 30 years he held senior investment management roles in fixed income, multi-asset, private debt, real estate finance, client relationship management, sales, and marketing for M&G, AXA, and Legal & General. He has also done investment training for trustees and the media. Ashley has been a senior investment advisor for Apex Group since 2021 and has worked on a number of mandate searches and due diligence exercises.

John has an economics degree from Nottingham University, is a member of CIPFA, and has over 30 years’ experience at director/assistant director level in local authority finance and pension funds. Since 2012, he has worked independently, currently chairing the pension boards for two LGPS schemes and as a trustee for a national charity. His current roles cover the whole range of pension fund activity and he has particular expertise in governance issues.

Karen has worked in the finance sector for over 30 years. She provides independent investment advice to the London Boroughs of Islington, Camden, and Hounslow pension funds. In 2017, she set up Pensions for Purpose, a collaborative information-sharing and training platform which aims to raise awareness of responsible, sustainable, and impact investment amongst pension funds. She is non-executive Chair of Resonance Ltd, an impact manager investing in real estate social impact opportunities, and chair of the Strategic Investment Board for the Ministry of Justice.

Antti acts as an adviser and consultant in the financial services sector, with a focus on alternative investments, quantitative investment strategies, and derivatives. He teaches finance at graduate level in his native Finland and is also engaged in executive education for financial institutions and family offices. He has published both practical industry reports and peer-reviewed academic research on alternative investments and is a regular media commentator on investment topics. Antti previously worked in various investment banking roles over two decades. He holds an M.Sc. (economics) and a Ph.D. (finance) from Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration.

After working as the CIO at Manulife Europe, Steve gained extensive experience as a trustee, director, and adviser for public and private sector pension funds including the National Trust and Brunel Pension Partnership. He formerly chaired the trustees and investment committees at of Manufacturers Life DB scheme and Devro, was a public governance member of Network Rail, and adviser to Devon and Gloucestershire LGPS. He is currently an adviser within the LGPS for Dorset and chairs the Scotiabank DB scheme. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Securities Institute.

Rohan has worked in financial markets for over 40 years and has extensive experience of investment markets, pension fund, and charity governance. Over this time, he has led fixed income and equity investment teams and has developed leadership skills, with the ability to manage and motivate others. He was a managing director at Blackrock and previous roles held include investor advisor to Berkshire Pension Fund, Chair of the Cornwall Pension Board, and Chair of the Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank. His current roles include investment advisor to both the Merseyside Pension Fund and the East Riding Pension Fund and Chair of the Finance & Investment Committee of the Allied Irish UK Pension Fund.

Steve is a CFA Charter holder with vast manager research experience across the key public and private asset classes utilised by institutional investors. He is also skilled at advising clients on strategic investment matters, including asset allocation, portfolio construction, and implementation. Prior to joining Apex Group, Steve worked at XPS Pensions Group where he was a senior consultant and head of their credit research team. He holds a BSc (Hons) Economics degree from the University of Liverpool and the CFA UK Level 4 Certificate (formally IMC).

Shannon is an Associate in the Apex Investment Advisory team. Her role covers investment research, manager selection, investment, and operational due diligence with a focus on alternative investments, including private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, and timberland. Prior to joining Apex in 2022, she worked as a senior associate at Ping An of China Asset Management (Hong Kong) and as a private equity manager at Quam. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Medical Engineering from the University of Hong Kong and a Master of Finance from Tsinghua University.

James is an investment advisor specialising in private markets at Apex Group. Previously, he was an investment manager at a private equity and private debt fund -of-funds called Gestron Asset Management. His earlier roles include equity research positions at Berenberg and Jefferies, where he covered Travel and leisure, consumer staples, and DACH mid-cap companies. He holds an MSc in Finance from Imperial College London and a BA in Economics from the University of Exeter.

Ben is an actuary and senior vice president in the investment advisory team. His role covers strategic asset allocation, portfolio construction, manager selection, investment, and operational due diligence, with a specialist focus on alternative asset classes. This includes private markets (private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and real estate) and hedge funds. Prior to Apex Group, Ben spent seven years at Willis Towers Watson as a pensions and investment consultant, providing strategic advice to corporates and trustees of UK defined benefit pension schemes. His expertise spanned a wide range of areas, including investment strategy, journey planning, bulk annuity transactions, funding, and liability management.

William is a senior vice president and team leader in the investment advisory team. His role includes investment research, manager selection, investment and operational due diligence of alternative investments, with a focus on private markets (private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and real estate). He previously covered multi-asset investment solutions at a large asset management firm, having held previous roles in alternatives, hedge funds, and securities. William studied economics and international relations and is a CFA and CAIA charterholder. He also holds the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing.

Kea is the business manager for Apex Investment Advisory with experience in auditing, operations management, financial risk, and compliance. Her current role consists of day-to-day operations within the business, including managing, maintaining, and assisting with client pitches, business development initiatives, and she serves as a contact person for senior advisors. Prior to joining Apex Group, Kea worked as an operations manager at BDO Cape Town. Kea holds a BCom degree in Chartered Accountancy from North West University and completed her SAICA articles with Moore Cape Town.

Magnus was educated at the London School of Economics and started his career in investment banking and then private equity. He was a founder of Sector Analysis in 1997 and of Spence Johnson in 2008, delivering innovative global data, research, and consulting to 120 leading asset management firms. Magnus achieved a trade sale to Broadridge in 2017 where he remained until 2021, and then moved to MJ Hudson which was later acquired by Apex Group. He currently serves as a director, focused on commercial activities within Apex Investment Advisory and Clarus Risk.

Emily is an Analyst in the Apex Investment Advisory team. Her role covers investment research, due diligence, market analysis, and fund selection across private markets. She specialises in retail investments in the tax advantage investment market, focusing on venture capital, real estate, and infrastructure. Prior to joining Apex Group, Emily received a BSs Joint-Honours Degree in Finance and Business from the University of Sussex and she also holds a CISI level 3 Investment qualification.”