portfolio institutional talks to Keith Lewis, who recently joined Pitmans Trustees (PTL) as a client director. He was previously a partner at Aon Hewitt.
If you didn’t work in investment, what career would you have chosen?
I was always attracted by the type of job that had some element of working outdoors, rather than being permanently at a desk. Therefore, for a long time I was interested in being a building surveyor.
What was your favourite subject at school and why?
Maths. The challenge of solving puzzles and problems has always interested me. Increasingly I saw maths being used to solve real-life issues which fuelled my interest further.
What was your first paid role?
My family used to run a business making coffee. The business had a large room where the coffee beans were roasted. One summer I was paid to paint this room. The lingering smell of the coffee was fantastic.
What led you to a career in investment?
One afternoon while at university I saw a presentation by an actuary, explaining what actuaries do. This seemed to fit well with my interest in maths and problem-solving. A career in pensions started, including scheme financing negotiations, setting investment strategies and establishing good governance practices as a pension trustee.
What are your priorities for this new role?
Pension schemes have faced many challenges recently, in particular achieving good investment returns that keep pace with the growth in liabilities. I aim to help these pension schemes run efficiently and to deliver the desired outcomes for the scheme members.
What is the biggest hurdle for institutional investors at present?
Investment markets and many investment opportunities globally have become increasingly correlated. Therefore, a significant challenge for institutions is finding substantial investment opportunities that are uncorrelated with global markets and expected to deliver good levels of return in a low inflationary environment.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy cycling so I’m always trying to find the time to get out on my bike.
