LSE Focal Point Podcast

Alistair Wittet, a Portfolio Manager at Comgest with a background at Citi and abrdn, shares insights from his extensive finance experience. He reflects on his early investment lessons during the dot-com bubble and the importance of diverse perspectives in investing. Wittet discusses assessing high-growth companies using Lindy's Law and the advantages of established firms. He highlights how political and economic changes shape investment strategies, stressing the significance of fundamentals and long-term approaches in a rapidly evolving economy.

Join us for another phenomenal episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Simon Ridpath, Managing Partner at Charles Russell Speechlys. Prior to his current role, he handled a variety of legal matters including insolvency law early in his career. Simon holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Kent. Recorded in November 2023.

Join us for another fantastic episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Carmen Alonso, the Head of UK and Iberia at Tikehau Capital. Prior to her current role, she was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and Vice President of GSK’s Corporate Finance practice. Carmen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and International Management from Boston University School of Management, obtained her MBA at Babson college, and completed her Executive Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Carmen is also a Board Member of Room to Read, a global organisation that aims to increase literacy and gender equality in education in low-income communities. Recorded in September 2023.

Join us for another exciting episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Lisa Quest, Partner and Head of UK and Ireland at Oliver Wyman. Lisa has nearly 15 years of consulting experience across New York and London, and also worked in private equity. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from the LSE and is a Member of the Board of Trustees at Best Beginnings, a charity focussing on providing support for young children. Recorded in October 2023.

Join us for another magnificent episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Richard Bloxam, the Global CEO of Capital Markets at JLL. Since joining JLL in 1994, Richard has been working across the capital markets business to develop real estate investment strategies for the biggest and most active investors in the world. Richard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography from the University of Exeter and a Post Graduate Diploma in Estate Management from London Southbank University. Recorded in September 2023.

Join us for another excellent episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Michael Kovacs, Founding Partner of Castleforge. Prior to his current role, he was Vice President at Westbrook Partners where he was involved in transactions representing over £2bn of asset value, and an Analyst at The Blackstone Group. Michael holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Recorded in September 2023.

Join us for another insightful episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Carl Wu, the Co-Founder & CEO of New Frontier Group. Under his leadership, New Frontier has become the leading integrated healthcare provider in China, servicing approximately 10 million patients annually across 50 cities. Prior to his current role, he was a Managing Director at Blackstone and was one of the founding members of Blackstone Asia. Carl is also a LSE Alumni from the BSc Economics Class of 2004, and was acknowledged by Fortune as one of the “40 Under 40” Global Business and Political Leaders in 2021.  Recorded in September 2023.

Join us for another brilliant episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Murray Roos, the Group Head of Capital Markets at LSEG. Prior to his current role, he held numerous senior positions at prominent investment banks, including Global Head of Prime Finance at Deutsche Bank and Global Co-Head of Equities and Securities Services at Citi. Murray holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town and worked as a Chemical Engineer before starting his career in Finance. Recorded in July 2023.

As the last episode for the summer, join us for another engaging episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by John Rudaizky, the Global Brand and Marketing Leader at EY. Prior to his current role, he was Managing Partner at Saatchi & Saatchi, Global Business Director at J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, and CEO of Team Vodafone and Team GSK at WPP. John obtained a bachelor's degree from City, University of London and holds a diploma from the Charted Institute of Marketing. We will be back in the new term. Recorded in April 2023.

Join us for another exciting episode at Focal Point where today we are joined by Ian Stuart, the CEO of HSBC UK. Prior to his current role, he led the Corporate Banking business at Barclays for six years, and held various roles in Business Banking during his 22 years at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Ian studied at the University of Reading and is a business partner to Meningitis Now. Recorded in June 2023.