The Board of Trustees of the Standards Board for Alternative Investments (SBAI) has appointed Mario Therrien, Senior Managing Director and Head of Strategic Partnerships, Developed Markets, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), and Luke Ellis, CEO, Man Group PLC, both current Trustees of the Standards Board, as the successors to Chairman Dame Amelia Fawcett, who is retiring after nine years leading the Standards Board. Established over a decade ago, the Standards Board is the standard-setting body for the alternative investment industry and the leading collaborative platform that brings together managers and investors to share areas of common concern and develop practical, industry-wide solutions.
“The current health crisis and challenging economic outlook spell uncharted, potentially treacherous, waters. So, the need for leadership, strong standards of practice and efficient sharing of knowledge among peers has never been greater,” says Fawcett. “This is precisely the type of environment that underscores the value of the Standards Board, as industry members seek current insights and examples of ‘best practice’, as they manage through the difficult and uncertain weeks and months ahead. I am confident the Standards Board will continue to play a very important role during this crisis and for years to come, particularly under the strong leadership of Mario and Luke, both industry leaders who have been committed to the Standards Board for more than a decade. Their partnership is a visible manifestation of what makes the Standards Board so valuable – investors and managers working together across geographies to make a difference to our industry and economies.”
Therrien, who has been appointed as Chairman, says: “I am incredibly honoured to lead the Board of Trustees of the Standards Board and further the important work and growing adoption of the Standards around the world. The current environment underscores the value of the SBAI as a collaborative platform where industry leaders can share knowledge and develop solutions that help institutional investors, investment managers and regulators strengthen the alternative investment industry.”
Ellis, who has Deputy Chairman, says: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Mario to lead the Standards Board at a time when it is thriving and also the need for it has never been greater. I am confident that the SBAI and the Standards will continue to serve all of the stakeholders in the alternative investment industry around the globe and be an essential part of making our industry stronger.”
The growing support for the Standards Board from investors and asset managers around the world is a testament to the importance of the Standards and the SBAI “platform”. In the last 12 months, leading asset managers, including Angelo Gordon, Blackrock, Bridgewater, Citadel and PIMCO, have joined the Standards Board or increased their long-standing commitment as Core Supporters, the highest level of commitment.
