(February 5, 2014) — Investors from the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland have been recognised by aiCIO readers as topping the bill when it comes to innovation.
From corporate pension funds running a couple of billion euros to national industry-wide schemes with multiples of that amount, the shortlist this year draws from a wide pool across the continent.
Over the last two months, industry participants have submitted nominations and these have been whittled down to leave four finalists in each category. The winners of these asset owner categories will be announced at a celebratory dinner on May 15 at London’s Savoy, when aiCIO will host some of Europe’s leading figures in institutional investment.
Institutional investors will be recognised for innovation excellence across a range of 15 categories, including asset allocation, portfolio construction, and risk management. A new award for 2013 will highlight the huge strides that are being made in improving governance structures to empower investments teams and reassure trustee boards the most effective decisions are being made.
The aiCIO awards do not seek out the investors who have made the greatest one, three or even five-year returns; rather they acknowledge those who believe there may be a more efficient way of investing members’ assets and managing portfolio risk.
Some of last year’s winners—and runners up—have appeared again, but we also welcome newcomers.
For a rundown of last year’s winners, click here. For a photo gallery of the event, click here.
Nominees are as follows, but for a list including reasons for the nominations click here.
Asset Allocation
· BT Pension Scheme
· Friends Life
· IndustriensPension
· PensionDanmark
Portfolio Construction
· Chilterns LGPS (Berks, Bucks, Oxfordshire)
· Royal Mail Pension
· SPK
· Zurich
Risk Management
· HBOS Final Salary Pension Scheme
· PKA
· Pension Protection Fund
· Superannuation Arrangements of the University of London (SAUL)
Governance
· AP4
· Danish pensions (ATP, Industriens Pension, PensionDanmark, PFA Pension, PKA, and Sampension)
· PGGM
· Tesco Pension
Corporate/Industry Pension Scheme Below €5 Billion
· ABF
· PP Pension
· Lombard Odier
· United Utilities
Corporate/Industry Pension Scheme Above €5 Billion
· Huisartsen Pensioenfunds
· Elo Mutual Pension Insurance Company
· Philips Pensioenfonds
· Santander Pension Fund
Public Pension Scheme Below €15 Billion
· Ärzteversorgung Westfalen-Lippe (German medical workers’ pension)
· Lancashire County Council Pension Fund
· Merseyside Pension Fund
· West Yorkshire Pension Fund
Public Pension Scheme Above €15 Billion
· APG
· ATP
· Pension Protection Fund
· Universities Superannuation Scheme
Chief Investment Officer/Investment Head of the Year
· Paul Bishop, Head of Investment, Railpen
· Stefan Dunatov, CIO, Coal Pension
· Patrick Groenendijk, CIO, Pensioenfonds Vervoer
· Theodore Economou, CIO & CEO, CERN Pension
· Penny Green, CEO, SAUL
· Henrik Gade Jepsen, CIO, ATP
· Tom Joy, CIO, Church Commissioners Fund