Board room challenges: getting a seat at the board

Anne Keys

Anne Keys leads The Panel’s executive search in the Funds, Investment Management & ESG sector and is uniquely placed to partner with firms in hiring executives, board members and independent non-executive directors.   Anne works with a large number of the investment firms establishing a presence in Ireland following the Brexit vote and has had great success sourcing Country Heads/CEOs, PCF and DP roles for her clients. Anne’s key differentiator is her extensive network developed over 25 years in recruitment and her technical knowledge of the roles she recruits for, in the funds and investment management space.   She provides consultancy advice on the talent landscape, talent availability and is hugely knowledgeable on the sourcing requirements driven by the CBI under CP86. Anne was instrumental in the set up and launch of  100 Women in Finance in Ireland and is former co-Chair for 100 Women in Finance, Ireland Chapter and currently advisor and committee member of 100 Women in Finance. She is driving 100WF workshops for their executive female members, advising them on how to launch their independent non-executive director careers. Anne has been invited to speak at key industry conferences in Dublin, London and Amsterdam on “CP86 Dear Chair – Getting the plan right”, “The talent landscape in Investment Management sector in Ireland”, “The War for Talent”, “The benefits of an international board” and “The benefits of a diverse board”. She also supports basis.point the Irish Fund industry’s initiative to come together to help make a difference to those in need.

Clive Bellows

Head of Global Fund Services, EMEA, Northern Trust

As a member of the Northern Trust European Management Committee and Head of GFS EMEA, Clive has overall responsibility for leading the company’s Fund Administration and Depositary business in the UK, Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Netherlands and Guernsey. He joined Northern Trust in May 2011. As part of managing Northern Trust’s expanding and evolving servicing offering, he played a key role in ensuring the smooth integration of Northern Trust Securities Services (Ireland) Ltd following the acquisition of Bank of Ireland Securities Services, June 1st 2011.

Prior to joining Northern Trust Clive was Managing Director at JP Morgan and responsible for EMEA asset managers and hedge funds. During his career spanning over 30 years, Clive has worked for Chase Manhattan Bank, Deutsche Bank and Barclays International. He also spent six years at Northern Trust in London, between 1997 and 2003, as Head of Relationship Management for the Global Fund Services and Investment Manager Liaison Group.

Clive is an ex‐President of the Irish Chamber of Commerce. He is Chairman of the Basis. Point charity and is also a serving Board member of the Irish U.S. Council.

Phelim Keogan

Phelim Keogan is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Goodbody Fund Management, a third-party Super-ManCo with primary expertise in large-scale Institutional Real Estate in all sectors domestically. He is currently leading preparations for the transition of the firm’s operations to TMF Group, a global Fund Services Company, subject to Central Bank approval of the acquisition. Phelim has 30 years' experience gained in senior leadership roles with global investment management firms, spanning traditional and alternative investment strategies across multiple asset classes and product structures worldwide. In his most recent role as CEO and Head of Investment, Mr. Keogan successfully led the establishment of Algebris Investments' Super-ManCo and secured authorisation of the Central Bank to offer UCITS, AIFM and MiFID services to funds and institutional clients. Prior to this Mr. Keogan had a long tenure as International Treasurer and Global Head of Currency Management for Fidelity International. Mr. Keogan has diverse experience in Executive and non-Executive roles including Investment, Product, Risk and Audit Committees and sought to augment this practical experience by undertaking the Certified Investment Fund Director programme and the Professional Certificate for Designated Persons in Fund Management Companies.

Amy Johnson

Amy Johnson is Country Head and Managing Director (European Development) – JOHCMI and JOHCM Funds (Ireland) Limited part of the Perpetual Group (Australia). Amy moved from Sydney to Ireland in 2021 to drive the set up and build out of the European Investment Management operations from Dublin for JO Hambro part of Perpetual Group. Previously, Amy was Head of Risk & Compliance (CRO) for the Pendal Group (Australia) and is trained in audit, with a risk consulting background at PwC, Sydney.

Eimear Cowhey

Eimear Cowhey is an experienced non-executive independent chairman, director and committee member of various investment fund, investment management and MiFID companies in Ireland, England and Luxembourg. In her executive life she held senior executive and board positions within the Pioneer Amundi Group, including Global Head of Product Development and Invesco Asset Management including Managing Director and Global Fund Director. Eimear is a qualified Irish lawyer and has received Chartered Director status from the IoD (London). She also holds a Diploma in Accounting and Finance (ACCA) and a Certificate in Financial Services Law (UCD). Eimear was a member of the Committee on Collective Investment Governance (CCIG) which was established by the Central Bank of Ireland in December 2013 and which issued an expert report in July 2014 on recommendations for good governance practice for investment funds. She is a former Chairperson and Council member of Irish Funds and is a former member of the IFSC Funds Group a joint government/industry group to advise the government of investment fund related matters. She is a founder and director of basis.point which is the Irish investment fund industry charity supporting educational programmes for disadvantaged children and which has raised over €4 million since establishment.