{"id":15170,"date":"2016-03-19T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-19T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kaizen.ap.applyflow.com\/leaders-in-funds-management-lewis-bearman-coo-prodigy-investment-partners\/"},"modified":"2024-02-06T23:41:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-06T23:41:42","slug":"leaders-in-funds-management-lewis-bearman-coo-prodigy-investment-partners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/leaders-in-funds-management-lewis-bearman-coo-prodigy-investment-partners\/","title":{"rendered":"Leaders in funds management\u2013 Lewis Bearman \u2013 COO, Prodigy Investment Partners"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>Overview of career to date.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I have worked in the financial services industry since 1983 when I left school and joined the Reserve Bank. I left the RBA in 1986 to join County Investments and that is when my career in financial services and investment management really began. I worked at County from 1986 until 2003 doing all sorts of roles. Starting in capital markets and then moving into fixed interest management until I found my operational calling in 1998. I left what had then become Invesco in 2003 to join Perennial Investment Partners as COO. This was an amazing opportunity to be involved with one of the most successful boutiques as it grew from around $4 billion when I joined to over $20 billion at its peak. I left Perennial in 2014 and am now a Director and COO of an exciting venture, Prodigy Investment Partners. I am enjoying working with ex MLC head Steve Tucker and being backed by a committed and enthusiastic parent Euroz Securities.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 70%;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-01.cms-ap-v2i.applyflow.com\/kaizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/lewis-bearman-prodigy-investment-partners-kaizen-recruitment-article.jpg\" alt=\"Lewis Beardman\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>How did you get your first position in the industry?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>My move from the RBA to County really was right place at the right time. I was looking to leave the RBA as most roles were moving to Sydney and I didn\u2019t want to at that stage. County were looking to set an office up in Melbourne and were asking around at the RBA for a stock settlements clerk. I approached them and was successful in getting the role. The rest is now history. I worked as a settlements clerk for almost 2 years.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>You have recently started a new venture, Prodigy Investment Partners. Can you provide an update on your strategy for this business?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Prodigy Investment Partners is a multi-boutique investment management house bringing the brightest minds to deliver superior returns for our clients over the long term. We seek to partner with talented investment professionals who can deliver quality investment strategies that meet client needs. \u00a0We do this through a sustainable business model that is directly aligned to the interests of our clients. With experienced and accomplished executives managing the business, we provide a platform of first class infrastructure and services that support our boutique partners. Prodigy launched its first partner boutique in 2015 \u2013Flinders Investment Partners, an Australian Small Cap specialist. We will launch our second partnership in April 2016. We have been pleased with the number of opportunities that exist to partner with talented investment professionals looking to establish new businesses.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>You have lead and managed large teams previously at County, Invesco and Perennial. What was your approach to attracting, and developing talent?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I believe that the approach to attracting and developing talent is not driven by the size of the organisation. Attracting talented individuals into a company with a good reputation and good people is not difficult. The challenge is developing the talent to ensure they can thrive in the environment that you provide for them. To develop talent I believe you need to invest time and effort to understand peoples skills and interests. Provide regular, open and honest feedback; be prepared to invest in training and development and most importantly place trust in the individual to do the role they have been employed to do and ensure they have the right resources and support to do the role to the best of their ability. Always ensure you act and encourage in the way you want your team to act.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>What do you believe are the attributes that make a successful leader?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Open, honest and regular communicator<\/li>\n<li>To lead by example<\/li>\n<li>Empowers their team<\/li>\n<li>Provides training and resources to ensure success<\/li>\n<li>Encourages the ability to question<\/li>\n<li>Rewards success, learns from failure<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>If you could give 1 piece of advice about developing a career within the Funds Management Industry what would it be?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Listen to those around you, learn from those within your organisation who have been successful, don\u2019t be afraid to ask questions and always challenge yourself to grow, learn and do better.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>What are some of the main opportunities and challenges you see for the industry over the coming year?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The financial services industry is an ever changing and developing industry that continues to provide challenges and opportunities. The main challenges I see relate to the performance of markets, changes to legislation governing superannuation and financial services, growing expectations from clients and investors for better service, returns, transparency and costs.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>There are also plenty of opportunities. To ensure we continue to educate investors to ensure they plan and achieve financial independence as we all grow older and approach retirement. As an industry we also need to ensure that all the participants in the industry are more respected for the roles they do and we continue to educate to improve financial literacy.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>You have recently gone through the ratings process with Zenith and Lonsec. As a boutique funds management business in the embryonic stage how did your team approach this?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The process of rating your funds is very important. It is an opportunity to get both our investment teams and infrastructure assessed by independent organisations that are well respected in the funds management industry. Preparation is the key to ensure that you can clearly describe your investment process and fundamental beliefs as well as how the business functions. It is also important to be able to demonstrate that what you are explaining is what you actually do.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>What are your interests outside of work?<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I have a number of interests outside of work. I have always been passionate about junior sport, especially junior AFL football. I am a life member of the East Malvern Junior Football club having been involved there for almost 10 years. I am now currently a Board member of the South Metro Junior Football League. I am a life member of the Carlton Football Club, and despite difficult times currently I remain a passionate supporter. I am also a keen racehorse enthusiast having been involved with breeding and ownership. My family is also very important to me and ensuring I spend time with them is a priority.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3>Get in Touch<\/h3>\n<p>Kaizen Recruitment specialises financial services recruitment across funds management, wealth management, superannuation, investment consulting and insurance. We are based in Melbourne and Sydney. For assistance or further information, <span style=\"font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; outline: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;\">please telephone our office at <a style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; font: inherit; outline: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;\" href=\"https:\/\/tel:+61390957157\/\">+61 3 9095 7157<\/a> or get in touch with our team below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"frm_forms  with_frm_style frm_center_submit frm_style_formidable-style\" id=\"frm_form_20_container\" data-token=\"a959a3e96f539ba069202f1a94171471\">\n<form enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" method=\"post\" class=\"frm-show-form  frm_js_validate  frm_pro_form \" id=\"form_contactform1\"  data-token=\"a959a3e96f539ba069202f1a94171471\">\n<div class=\"frm_form_fields \">\n<fieldset>\n<legend class=\"frm_screen_reader\">Got Questions? 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frm_top_container\">\r\n    <label for=\"field_xruah2\" id=\"field_xruah2_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">State \/ Country\r\n        <span class=\"frm_required\" aria-hidden=\"true\">*<\/span>\r\n    <\/label>\r\n    <input type=\"text\" id=\"field_xruah2\" name=\"item_meta[190]\" value=\"\"  data-reqmsg=\"This field cannot be blank.\" aria-required=\"true\" data-invmsg=\"Text is invalid\" aria-invalid=\"false\"  \/>\r\n    \r\n    \r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_233_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_required_field frm_top_container\">\r\n    <label for=\"field_1zibl\" id=\"field_1zibl_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">(Please select an option) What area of specialisation do you want to learn more about?\r\n        <span class=\"frm_required\" aria-hidden=\"true\">*<\/span>\r\n    <\/label>\r\n    \t\t<select name=\"item_meta[233]\" id=\"field_1zibl\"  data-reqmsg=\"This field cannot be blank.\" aria-required=\"true\" data-invmsg=\"(Please select an option) What area of specialisation do you want to learn more about? is invalid\" aria-invalid=\"false\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"General\">\n\t\t\tGeneral\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"Investment Operations and Fund Accounting\">\n\t\t\tInvestment Operations and Fund Accounting\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"Portfolio Manager, Investment Performance and Data Analyst\">\n\t\t\tPortfolio Manager, Investment Performance and Data Analyst\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"Legal, Risk and Compliance\">\n\t\t\tLegal, Risk and Compliance\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"Business Development, Relationship Management, and Funds Management Distribution\">\n\t\t\tBusiness Development, Relationship Management, and Funds Management Distribution\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"Wealth, Financial Advisors, and Paraplanners\">\n\t\t\tWealth, Financial Advisors, and Paraplanners\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"Tax, Accounting, Finance and Shared Services\">\n\t\t\tTax, Accounting, Finance and Shared Services\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"Marketing and Communications\">\n\t\t\tMarketing and Communications\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"Projects and IT, Business Analysts\">\n\t\t\tProjects and IT, Business Analysts\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t\t<option  value=\"Executive Level\">\n\t\t\tExecutive Level\t\t<\/option>\n\t\t\t<\/select>\n\t\r\n    \r\n    \r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_192_container\" class=\"frm_form_field  frm_html_container form-field\">\n<p><b>Note: <\/b>Any personal information provided will remain confidential and will be managed in line with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/privacy-policy\/\">privacy policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_key\" value=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"frm_verify\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<label for=\"frm_email_20\">\n\t\t\t\t\tIf you are human, leave this field blank.\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" class=\"frm_verify\" id=\"frm_email_20\" name=\"frm_verify\" value=\"\"  style=\"display:none;\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<input name=\"frm_state\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"M4G5IL00FUUxottzEGE\/\/e02veqOjQSMDimP7Hy6ojQ=\" \/><div class=\"frm_submit\">\r\n\r\n<button class=\"frm_button_submit frm_final_submit\" type=\"submit\"   formnovalidate=\"formnovalidate\">Submit<\/button>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/fieldset>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Like what you see?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">Please feel welcome to join<br \/>\nKaizen Recruitment&#8217;s mailing list<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; outline: 0px; box-sizing: border-box;\"><a id=\"subscribe-to-mailing-list\" class=\"mini-new-buttons\" 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I have worked in the financial services industry since 1983 when I left school and joined the Reserve Bank. I left the RBA in 1986 to join County Investments and that is when my career in financial services and investment management really began. I worked at County from 1986 until&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":15173,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[534,63,548,549],"class_list":["post-15170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-q-and-as","tag-careers-in-funds-management","tag-kaizen-recruitment","tag-lewis-bearman","tag-prodigy-funds-management"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15170"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17998,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15170\/revisions\/17998"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/15173"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kaizenrecruitment.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}