The 21st Annual Competitive Challenges Conference
October 9-10, 2024   |  The Langham   |   Chicago

2023 Agenda

Adapting to Change: Strategies for the Agile Asset Manager

Adapting to Change: Strategies for the Agile Asset Manager will be the central message at our conference. We'll cover topical issues and actionable solutions based on interactive dialogues with executives from the asset management community.

The takeaways from the event will help asset managers deliver a truly differentiated client experience, successfully navigate the investment consultant manager research process, position themselves for future success in the private markets space, understand the trends and implications of Outsourced CIO adoption, explore how sales and marketing collaboration can be optimized to increase efficiencies and win rates, and meet the evolving needs and objectives of asset owners.

Time Tuesday, October 10th
6:00PM - 7:30PM

Registration & Welcome Reception

Time Wednesday, October 11th
7:30AM - 8:30AM

Onsite Registration & Breakfast

8:30AM - 9:30AM

Welcome Address and Overview of Industry
Presenter: Todd Glickson, Head of Investment Management - North America, Coalition Greenwich

9:30AM - 10:15AM

PANEL
CX — Delivering a Uniquely Compelling Client Experience

Clients expect a flexible, seamless and personalized experience at each stage of the client journey, and managers who deliver this forge deeper and longer relationships with their client base. What are the greatest detractors or creators of value in the client experience? What tools, technologies and channels are managers utilizing to reduce friction in the client journey? How can managers deliver a truly differentiated client experience and evolve from being a service provider to a strategic partner?

SPEAKERS

Liz Haines
SVP - Client Experience Program Manager
Voya Investment Management

Susan McMurry
COO, Client Platform
Wellington Management

Francis Sempill
Head of Client Service
Walter Scott North America

MODERATOR

Sophie Emler
Senior Relationship Manager
Coalition Greenwich

10:15AM - 10:30AM

Break & Morning Snack

10:30AM - 11:15AM

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kevin Rosenbaum
Global Head, Capital Markets Research
Cambridge Associates

11:15AM - 12:00PM

PANEL
Private Markets — Positioning for the Future

Institutional Investor demand for Private Market investments remains very strong across multiple asset classes, with both traditional and specialist managers vying for market share. However, changes in the market environment have impacted investors' priorities, preferences, and plans, requiring managers to review their business strategies and offerings. Liquidity, transparency and fees are just a few of the issues that are top-of-mind as investors ponder future asset allocation decisions. This panel will assess how asset managers should be thinking about positioning themselves for future success in the Private Markets space.

SPEAKERS

James Kase
Managing Director & Head of Global Investor Relations
HarbourVest Partners

Amy Lesch
Partner, Client and Partner Group
KKR

Ria Nova
Partner, Client and Product Solutions
Apollo Global Management

MODERATOR

Mark Buckley
Head of Investment Management
Coalition Greenwich

12:00PM - 1:00PM

Lunch

1:00PM - 1:45PM

KEYNOTE SPEAKER — FIRESIDE CHAT

Allison Fisch
Managing Principal, President, and Portfolio Manager
Pzena Investment Management

1:45PM - 2:45PM

PANEL
Marketing + Sales

Impactful gains in productivity, client/prospect engagement and sales can be attributed not only to the quality of distribution and marketing teams, but to the support and resources allocated by the organization they represent. In this panel, we will explore how sales and marketing collaboration via shared responsibilities, focus on developing strategic partnerships, and elevation of targeted thought leadership initiatives can be optimized to increase efficiencies and win rates.

SPEAKERS

Robert Duwa
Partner, Head of North America Distribution
William Blair Investment Management

Maurice Leger
Head of Global Distribution
Loomis Sayles

Judy May
Vice President, Marketing
RBC Global Asset Management

Paul Zettl
EVP, Chief Marketing Officer
Cohen & Steers

MODERATOR

Todd Glickson
Head of Investment Management - North America
Coalition Greenwich

2:45PM - 3:00PM

Break & Afternoon Snack

3:00PM - 3:45PM

PANEL
OCIO — A 360° Perspective

As OCIO adoption has matured into a common solution to challenges facing institutional investors of different types and sizes this panel will address considerations including governance, fee transparency, asset allocation and reporting from the perspective of asset owners, managers and the specialist consultants that conduct due diligence in the manager selection process.

SPEAKERS

Jeffry Haber
Professor of Accounting
Iona University

Nikki Kraus
President and Chief Client Officer
Strategic Investment Group

Christopher Philips
Senior Vice President, OCIO Practice Leader
LCG Associates, Inc.

Brian Schroeder
Founder
OCIO Monitor

MODERATOR

Alasdair Philip
Senior Relationship Manager
Coalition Greenwich

3:45PM - 4:15PM

PRESENTATION
The Opportunity in Asia

Asian asset pools continue to grow on an unhindered trajectory in the last decade, driven by growing national budgetary surpluses, pension and insurance assets and rapid retail investing. Further, outsourcing has outpaced asset growth driven by internationalization of portfolios amongst Asian asset owners and proliferation of private assets. This has created a great opportunity for international managers to grow their business and position themselves for future growth in the region. That being said, the opportunity remains concentrated relative to other regions, heterogeneous (E.g. G10 markets like Japan and Australia in addition to large EM markets) and heavily competed. In this session we will explore the nature of the opportunity, where do managers need to invest and how do managers compete in this complex opportunity.

PRESENTER

Parijat Banerjee
Head of Asia-Pacific
Coalition Greenwich

4:15PM - 5:00PM

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS
Asset Management Hot Topics

Drawing on some of the themes covered during the day, this session offers an opportunity to participate in focused, curated roundtable discussions examining some of the pressing issues and challenges facing the asset management industry. Facilitated by the Coalition Greenwich team, attendees will be invited to share their views as they relate to the table topics, consider examples of best practice seen in the market and exchange ideas on how firms might look to differentiate themselves against a backdrop of evolving client needs.

Topics to be covered:

  • Product Development - Where to invest and when to pull the plug
  • A.I. — Game changer or game changer?
  • Brand - Can we bank on the halo effect?
  • Culture - The balancing act
6:00PM - 7:00PM

Cocktail Reception

7:00PM - 8:30PM

Plated Dinner

Time Thursday, October 12th
7:30AM - 8:30AM

Breakfast

8:30AM - 8:45AM

Welcome Back to Competitive Challenges

8:45AM - 9:30AM

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Churchill Franklin
Executive Chairperson
Intech

9:30AM - 10:25AM

PANEL
Consultant Relationships — The Road to Ratings

Investment Consultants role as a key intermediary to over 85% of asset owners in the U.S. and U.K. has led to manager research teams being inundated with requests to initiate coverage on new strategies, in addition to remaining current on existing manager offerings. Building relationships with this influential group is table stakes for the Consultant Relations team, who must gain access to and develop a relationship with these gatekeepers in order to obtain a place on their short lists. Panelists from consultant relations teams at asset managers and manager research staff at consulting firms will discuss navigating the manager research process from the initiation of coverage through successful due diligence to ongoing monitoring and client adoption.

SPEAKERS

Josh Brough
Managing Principal / Co-Head of Equity Research
Meketa Investment Group

Seyi Bucknor
Head of Consultant Relations
Fidelity Investments

John Hume
Vice President
Segal Marco Advisors

Mark Najarian
SVP, Co-Head of Global Institutional
American Century Investments

MODERATOR

Susan Gould
Senior Relationship Manager
Coalition Greenwich

10:25AM - 10:45AM

Break & Morning Snack

10:45AM - 11:30AM

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Bruce Geddes
President
PH&N Institutional

11:30AM - 12:00PM

VOICE OF CLIENT
Asset Owners — Best-in-Class Practices during the Selection Process

Asset owners are reviewing their asset allocation strategies in light of market volatility and inflation, offering opportunities for investment managers to gain new mandates. Once they have decided to make a change and to evaluate new managers, how do investors go about the manager selection process? To what extent do broader factors such as brand and culture play a role? What are the key steps that managers should take, the 'must-haves', and the things to avoid, when they are being evaluated? Investors will provide views on how managers can give themselves the greatest chance for success.

SPEAKER

Anthony Criscuolo
SVP, Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

MODERATOR

Sophie Emler
Senior Relationship Manager
Coalition Greenwich

12:00PM - 1:15PM

Box Lunch & Networking