Technology a Focal Point at HFM EU COO Summit

Hundreds of managers from Europe's most influential hedge funds gathered in London recently for the annual HFM EU COO Summit. This invite-only event attracts the top names from the hedge fund world with over $3.2 trillion in assets under management represented at the conference.

It's the best place to get the pulse of the hedge fund market-to understand what is exciting managers and what is giving them pause as they pursue their global ambitions. They came to discuss the future of the industry, from innovative technology adoption to navigating global regulations. SS&C was in attendance, offering insight into how outsourcing is evolving to meet the industry's operational challenges.

SS&C was at the heart of the conversations again this year-as a speaker and an exhibitor, but also as key supporter of the hedge fund market.

The agenda was broad and covered a huge range of topics, from data, technology and regulation to how to communicate in a global organization and manage the competing demands of multiple generations in one team.

"It's a packed agenda and you can never take all of it in as one person, which is why we always attend this conference in force. As one of the world's leading fund administrators, it's a crucial event for us-it's pretty much our target market all in one place," said Jean White, Sales Director for EMEA at SS&C.

One colleague joining her at the event was Andy Evered, Head of EMEA Hedge Fund Services Sales, and while he anticipated the main conversation points across three days of conference, the way in which managers approached them was different.

"For years now, digital transformation has been one of the main issues for managers and everyone is at different stages of their development. Some are still figuring out how to approach modernisation, while others are trying to do it themselves. But more and more are realising that technology isn't their core skillset-they want to stick to investing," he said.

As a result, many are turning to third-party experts-companies like SS&C, who understand technology, it's applications and it's limitations.

"It's what we do," said Jean. "We are 100% focused on delivering technology solutions and getting the most out of them for our clients. We own our own tech, we understand it deeply and we know where and when to deploy it to best effect in any kind of hedge fund. We've been supporting that market in this way for nearly 40 years."

But it wasn't all technology talk, of course-regulation and the management of multiple regimes across various borders, as well as the practical challenges of managing a global team and embedding a universal culture were all prominent topics

"Managers are on the move globally because they're excited about the developing opportunities all around the world. But conversations reveal a degree of nervousness about the practical management of an international business," said Andy.

"How do they recruit and retain top talent in a new territory, or retain what makes their brand a success in a local market, and how can they bring new offices in new regions into the global, cultural fold?

"These are all problems that SS&C solves. It's really encouraging to see that wherever hedge funds are operating, whatever strategies they are using and whatever their operational challenges, we have the approach and the resources to support them," he added.

With another year done and another clutch of managers converted to the outsourced model, our next stop is Abu Dhabi Finance Week-a huge event in the global finance calendar-where our founder and Chair William Stone will be speaking. And of course, the SS&C team will be out in force once again, showing managers just how efficient their business could be.

Read our whitepaper to learn how to turn operational performance into a competitive advantage.