A familiar trio of fund managers fill the finalist slots for the annual INFINZ awards scheduled for May 22 in Auckland.
While last year’s INFINZ share manager of the year, Harbour Asset Management, is absent from the 2019 short-list, the three contenders have all been either winners or finalists in the long-running industry awards.
Mint Asset Management will vie with Fisher Funds and Milford Asset Management for the INFINZ equity manager of the year prize – with the latter two firms also in contention for the bond gong.
Fisher and Milford will be up against 2018 winner, Nikko Asset Management, in the bond manager of the year category.
The full list of INFINZ finalists – available here – covers the usual gamut of high finance high-flyers as well as less transactional-based awards such as diversity and inclusion, emerging leader and the latest round of fellowships.
According to the latest INFINZ newsletter, the industry body just topped 1,700 members following a period of rapid growth.
“Membership has doubled over the last five years, with growth especially strong amongst those under 40 who now comprise over 50% of the total membership,” the newsletter says.
Last year the INFINZ awards attracted a record crowd of 850 to the black-tie event.
The organisation itself experienced a board makeover last year as four directors stepped down. Andrew McGavin, Fiona McKenzie, Philip King and Mark Butcher all left the INFINZ board last year replaced with new directors: Richard Milsom (Elevation Capital); Andrew Woodward (Commonwealth Bank NZ); and, Kim Martin (NZ Debt Management Office).
Louise Tong, Contact Energy head of capital markets, stepped up from the deputy role to assume the chair left vacant by the departing King last year.
INFINZ, headed by long-time incumbent, Jim McElwain, accrued a cash surplus of $26,000 over the 2018 financial year against a budgeted $33,000 deficit “due to better than expected attendances and sponsorship at events”, the annual report says.
The industry body also reported cash and investment reserves of $375,000 and $581,000, respectively, as at June 30, 2018.