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Douglas Ferrans, Chairman of the Investment Management Association, said: “The first step is to reconnect with those investors and understand what they need and how best to serve those needs. The second is to demonstrate why we deserve their trust and confidence.”
He set out examples of positive actions that the IMA is already taking, the first of which has been to seek and develop a simple pounds-and-pence measure of investment funds’ historic costs alongside actual performance. Mr Ferrans stressed the need always to keep consumers’ interests front-of-mind: “We need to ensure that when we spend our clients’ money, we do so with real skill and diligence. We must ensure that when we face issues that give rise to potential conflicts of interest, we are able to think independently and put our clients’ interests first.”
Talking about how the industry tackles the challenge of effective engagement with companies in which it invests, Mr Ferrans said: “There is a very mixed approach in this area among investment management firms". “The challenges in effective engagement are well-known and I have in the past defended the right of our firms and clients to decide how far down this path they individually go. However, as an industry, this is an area that cannot and should not be ignored.”
IMA Chief Executive, Daniel Godfrey, has recently brought together the buy-side trade associations to consider options to improve and extend collective engagement – as suggested in the Kay Review – which would allow industry practitioners collaboratively to address issues and support companies in delivering long-term and sustainable returns.