Name: Tim Sharp
Role at Hottinger: Group Board Member & Managing Director of Hottinger Investment Management
About my role: As Managing Director of Hottinger Investment Management, my role is to oversee the strategies and investment processes we use to invest our clients’ money. I’m also the compliance officer for the entity, so under the Senior Managers’ Regime (SMCR) I’m responsible for ensuring that the staff in my team are competent for their roles.
Career & education so far: When I left school in the ‘80s, there were 3-4 million people unemployed in the UK. I sent out 68 letters looking for work and got just three replies, which resulted in one interview with a bank in London. I’d always said I’d never get the train into London to work for a bank, but that’s what I did. I decided to continue my education in a professional environment rather than going to university, so I took my banking exams whilst working.
Originally I worked in retail banking, but I found international banking much more exciting, so I moved to join the Royal Bank of Canada doing settlements. I then joined Julius Baer in London for 17 years and moved into their private banking division. I’ve been managing private client monies and investments since 1991.
My move from Julius Baer to Hottinger happened in 2001, when the company was just starting out in London. We had 4 people, 4 phones and 4 desks, and the rest we built up from scratch! We grew it into an independent investment management business, which then merged with a private family office to become Hottinger Group in 2016.
Favourite thing about your role: Having been involved in investments for 30 years, the best part is to be involved in setting investment strategy and asset allocation. That’s the bit I really enjoy.
Working from home tip: Make sure you can separate yourself from the day-to-day functioning of the household, as it can be hard to concentrate in the middle of family life. Make sure you sit comfortably, too, as it looks like we might be doing this for a while!
Proudest achievement: From a professional perspective, passing my MBA when I was in my 40s was a great achievement. But my proudest achievement ever was becoming a father to my daughter in 2000!
Best place you’ve ever travelled: Safari in Kenya in 1992. Being in the National Parks was amazing, staying in hotels opening up onto the plains and having game walk into the restaurant, and getting to see village life first-hand. It was a completely different world!
Favourite book: Always the book I’m reading! Having watched The Looming Tower on TV, I’m now reading the book which goes all the way back to how Al-Qaeda came to be and the events leading up to 9/11.
Favourite TV show: I very rarely watch TV as I’m never in! When I do, I end up watching whatever my wife thinks I’ll enjoy!
What you like to do in your spare time: I’m a part-time swim coach and I run a swimming club for 8-18 year olds, which we’ve unfortunately had to suspend during lockdown. All the swimmers are keeping in touch via club social media, but they’re really missing being in the pool. We’re all looking forward to getting back to it when we can.
Our investment strategy committee, which consists of seasoned strategists and investment managers, meets regularly to review asset allocation, geographical spread, sector preferences and key global market drivers and our economist produces research and views on global economies which complement this process.
Our quarterly report presents our views on the world economic outlook and equity, fixed income and foreign exchange markets. Please click the link to download.
