Getting to Know...Anthony Edmonds

Who are you and what do you do? 
I am Anthony Edmonds and I am the managing director of Implemented Investment Solutions.  We are the manager and issuer of the Russell Investment Funds, which were established in late 2011 - and grown to over $800 million today.

How did you get into the funds management industry?
At university I had no idea what I wanted to do, and was struggling with maths, statistics and finance.  From memory I had got 15% in statistics, which wasn’t too flash given it was an open book test!  I accidentally enrolled in a paper on investment management and loved it.  Suddenly I was doing statistics that actually had real life application, and it turned out I was actually really good at it. I then changed my focus to learning about investment management and knew that I wanted to work in the industry.  My first real job was with Southpac Investment Management thanks to Rob Walker and Graeme Kershaw.

For many years you had been with large fund managers, what made you set up your own firm?
I had roughly 5 years with Southpac, before working at AMP Capital for around 10 years.   The training these businesses gave me was great, but all along I knew I wanted to run my own business.   In around 2009 yet another restructure provided the opportunity to take the leap out of corporate life, so I jumped. I have loved setting up a business, as I have had to learn all sorts of new and challenging things.

You are pretty keen on rather adventurous sports, does that need for thrills come through in your funds management work?
Investment management is more about managing and removing risk.  However, in a way I think there is a link, as I put my early success in funds management down to being competitive.  I found something I was good at, and went hard to win things like business pitches.  When I got into mountain biking and trail running I discovered a couple of things that I was moderately good at, so I jumped in boots and all.  I love ripping on my mountain bike with my mates before work.  For me mountain biking has made living in Wellington absolutely awesome, as we have incredible mountain biking right in and around the city.