Challenging investment environment greets new CEO

Vimal Chagan has been appointed CEO of Advantage Asset Managers, effective 16 February 2009. Chagan joined Advantage in 2007 as chief operating officer.

Chagan has numerous years of experience in asset management and retirement fund portfolio construction. “I look forward to the challenges ahead, notwithstanding the tough local and international economic environment we are currently in.”

“The truth is that trustees and pension fund members nearing retirement are concerned that they may have to delay their retirement as their pension fund performance has battled with the economic turmoil we are experiencing.”

“Pension fund trustees are dealing with falling asset prices and markets that are contracting due to the global economic crises. Internationally trading partners are looking inwardly, in order to protect their citizens. As a result pension fund trustees are in the difficult position of trying to make informed decisions in an environment that no-one has lived through” says Chagan.

Chagan has a broad range of qualifications that includes a BSc (Hons) in Actuarial Science from the University of the Witwatersrand, an MBA from Wits Business School, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and the Certificate in Performance Measurement from the CFA Institute.