Black talent helps drive STANLIB fund success
BLACK talent – identified and developed by STANLIB’s graduate development programme – is helping to drive the exceptional performance of the country’s largest unit trust company.
The significant contribution of black skills was highlighted at the annual Absip Awards staged in Sandton by the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals.
The ‘Top Emerging Talent Award’ for 2007 went to John Oliphant (pictured right), a quantitative analyst at STANLIB responsible for building the investment models that help drive the success of some of the company’s most successful funds.
Oliphant (25) holds a BSc. in actuarial science and a BSc. Honours in Advanced Maths of Finance – both from Wits University. He was among 2500 graduates who applied to join the STANLIB fast-track to asset management, and one of only 15 who made it into the 2005 intake.
He hails from Tumahole, Parys, and received his basic education at the township secondary school, though his phenomenal ability in maths was fostered by the TV Learning Channel.
Graduate programme success at STANLIB was the springboard in 2006 to the post of fund manager of the asset manager’s quantitative funds.
Today, the four funds driven by input from John Oliphant are all top quartile performers. The STANLIB Enhanced SWIX fund was top in the year to the end of September in the Alexander Forbes Survey; the STANLIB Quant Unit trust was seventh out of 48 in its category, the STANLIB ALSI40 fund was first in its peer group and the STANLIB Index Fund was 10th out of 60. In all, the funds manage more than R4,4 billion.
Oliphant commented: “STANLIB in my view is the industry player making the best progress with real transformation. You have to prove yourself, but once you do, you are given opportunities to excel.
“Standards are high. Our investment process is rigorous. But you are free to perform. You are part of a team. However, a full contribution is expected of every individual player and you are fully accountable for everything you do.
“It’s a challenging environment and I’m proud of the contribution I’ve made to date. The award moves the bar higher, but that’s fine. The STANLIB culture insists on constant progression in any event.”
