What do you most look forward to when you come to work in the morning?

I most look forward to joining our Morning Meeting and connecting with my team when I come to work. The Morning Meeting is a long-standing tradition that provides a forum for our investment teams to share ideas and collaborate. 

What are the things you least look forward to? 

I like to spend my time constructively with clients and my team, so I must admit that I least look forward to long internal meetings.

Describe your job in a maximum of three sentences. 

I’m responsible for Wellington Management’s intermediary business across EMEA and APAC. What that means practically is that I want to make sure that we meet our clients’ expectations and help them deliver to their clients.

Have you always aspired to this position? 

After studying economics with a major in finance and business at university, I pursued a career as a portfolio manager. It seemed like a natural fit. However, when I started, I realised it wasn’t right for me at all. I loved the investment side, but I recognised that the thing that gave me the most energy was working with people.

Which of your qualities helps you most in your current position? 

I’m generally quite a calm person, which I think is a helpful trait in our industry. Market volatility can be very stressful and it’s good to be able to tune out the noise and focus on what really matters. 

How many people do you head up and what is your management style? 

I’m responsible for teams based in 11 different locations across EMEA and APAC, including our office in Zurich. We have a very inclusive and collaborative working environment, and our culture embodies all the positive aspects of the warmth of Swiss hospitality combined with the rigour of global financial acumen. I’m also a big believer in trusting my team. They know their market, so I try to give them the freedom to do what they think works best.   

What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a similar career? 

For anyone looking to work in the investment industry, I’d encourage them to figure out not only what they are interested in but most importantly, what gives them energy and what they like doing.

What is the percentage of women in your organization and how do you foster diversity in your team?

Wellington’s workforce is about 45% women and I’m proud to say that Wellington has a female CEO, Jean Hynes, who is also a portfolio manager on one of the world’s largest health care funds* . At Wellington, we place a very high value on respectful debate, the free exchange of ideas and a high level of collaboration. I try to encourage the same kind of mentality within my team.

What are the biggest challenges currently for you and your company? 

I think I echo all active managers when I say that passive management has been a headwind. However, at Wellington, we strongly believe the new investment regime means that time is over. We’re big believers in the power of deep research and skilled active management and I think this positions us very well for the future. 

What impact do current megatrends such as remote working, online meetings or e-learning have on your day-to-day work?

Of course, asset management is fundamentally a people business. But we’ve been thinking a lot about AI and how we might be able to use it to get better at what we do — and most importantly, improve what we do for our clients. So it’s something we’re continuing to explore. 

What are your next goals? 

I always want us to get to the next level — whether it’s our alternatives line-up or our wealth offering. We succeed when our clients succeed — that is my guiding principle. 

Bio

Roy Smale, Head of Global Wealth Management, EMEA and APAC.  Roy is responsible for leading Wellington Management’s wealth efforts across both EMEA and APAC markets. Prior to joining Wellington in 2010, Roy held several roles in distribution and portfolio management at BNP Paribas Investment Partners, Fortis Investments and ABN AMRO Asset Management (1997 – 2010).