Creating a custom development programme to harness talent and drive future growth
Ashmore, a global leader in Emerging Markets investment management, has over thirty years’ experience in offering investors direct access to emerging economies. Ashmore were looking for an Executive Education provider to help them create a course for representatives of international public institutions such as central banks and sovereign wealth funds, responsible for investing in developing economies.
Robert Hegt, Ashmore’s Head of Distribution EMEA, was tasked with creating the programme and he was clear about what he was looking for:
"Emerging markets are a little different and less developed by nature, so delegates need specialist training which they may not get anywhere else."
Since starting a relationship with that first course in 2011, Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) and Ashmore have delivered more than twelve Executive Education programmes together. Intensive residential weeks in London bring together executives from sovereign wealth funds, social security funds and central banks from countries including Australia, Brunei, Chile, Kazakhstan, Norway, Saudia Arabia, Singapore, and South Africa.
Finding the right business school partner
When initially searching for an Executive Education provider, Ashmore looked at a number of business schools. “We really liked the Bayes approach,” says Robert. “They had extensive experience running executive programmes not only in London, but also around the world.”
In developing that first programme, Ashmore and Bayes drew on each other’s strengths to create a bespoke course not offered elsewhere. Robert says:
"We were clear about what we wanted to build with Bayes – a course that combines academic rigour with practical application."
Robert continues:
"When we started working together many years ago, we got together in a room and thrashed out some ideas, and identified the relevant people who could give lectures around those ideas. We have continued to evolve the programme together to introduce new topics that play to each of our strengths."
“Ashmore’s portfolio managers and research staff talk about how they put things into practice, and Bayes’ academic staff teach on the theories behind those practices. In my opinion, it’s a very good combination, particularly for emerging markets where markets are inefficient, and the practicalities of some of the issues people face do not always align with existing academic insights, which are typically drawn from developed markets.”
“Over the years, the quality and knowledge of the participants have increased, and so the course has evolved to reflect this. When we first started, the delegates didn’t have much investment experience, so the programme was naturally more basic. Whereas today, it’s more advanced.”
Andrew Bladon, Institutional Account Services Executive at Ashmore, worked with the Bayes Executive Education team to deliver the 2023 programme ‘Emerging Markets Course for Public Institutions’. This five-day residential programme was hosted at Bayes Business School’s new Finsbury Square building near Liverpool Street and at Ashmore’s headquarters in Aldwych, London. It brought together world-class faculty from Bayes with Ashmore’s sector-leading practitioners to deliver a rigorous learning experience.
The programme was geared towards mid-level staff with about five years’ investment experience and delegates received expert insight on topics such as risk management, bond and equity markets and portfolio management.
Andrew explains:
"This year we attracted delegates who have a degree of practical experience in the markets and were looking to add some theory to that real-world experience. Then we had other delegates with more of a grounding in theory, who perhaps are studying to become a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and wanted to learn about practical application from Ashmore’s experts. It created a good balance between the two elements, and that was reflected in this year’s feedback.”
Another factor which rates highly in delegate feedback is the quality and experience of Bayes’ academics.
Robert explains:
“The faculty are an important factor – in particular Professor Steve Thomas, who has been a central part of the programme from the start. Delegate feedback on Steve has been consistently very high throughout the years.”
Incorporating the latest trends and issues
To ensure the programme remains relevant, each year the teams from Bayes and Ashmore review course topics and address any newly emerging trends.
“We always look to improve the agenda and the range of subjects we cover,” says Andrew. “For 2023’s curriculum we introduced several topics which have increasing relevance for the industry. These included Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) considerations, Risk Management and Big Data. From a practical standpoint, we’re seeing these topics emerge, and Bayes has world-leading academic expertise on these to share with delegates.”
Delivering long-term impact
Feedback from delegates is consistently high and the course attracts repeat participants, with institutions sending new delegates each year. Robert has also seen an impact over the longer term:
“After many years of running the programme, I regularly come across people who have risen to senior roles within their organisation, who attended our course and have fond memories of it.”
Ashmore
Ashmore is a specialist Emerging Markets (EM) investment manager with over thirty years' experience in offering investors direct access to a broad group of emerging economies.
Based in London, the business was founded in 1992 as part of the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group. In 1999 Ashmore became independent and today manages USD 54.0 billion (31 December 2023) in pooled funds and segregated accounts.
Testament to the company's success is the confidence that central banks, governments, corporate pension funds, financial institutions, and high-net-worth individuals have demonstrated by investing with Ashmore.
Bayes Business School
For more than 50 years, Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) has been leading the way in Executive Education. Bayes’ custom programmes help organisations excel in uncertain environments, and become better prepared to respond to a world which is ever changing.
Based in the City of London, Bayes is among the global elite of business schools and holds the gold standard of 'triple crown' accreditation from AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS.
The School’s faculty consist of world-class academics and industry-leading practitioners. Bayes academics explore imaginative new angles, asking difficult questions to produce ground-breaking research that has a positive impact on business, society and the environment.
Learn more
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