"Assume Nothing": Q&A with Willis Towers Watson's Oliver Berry
Oliver Berry, who recently joined Willis Towers Watson in a newly-created position as senior portfolio specialist, shares his humour and insights with Industry Moves this week in a Q&A that covers his goals for his new role in the coming months, the lessons he learnt in his previous role, the novelist that taught him about the world, his 'secret' talent, and how he learnt the importance of concentration.
Oliver Berry, who recently joined Willis Towers Watson in a newly-created position as senior portfolio specialist, shares his humour and insights with Industry Moves this week in a Q&A that covers his goals for his new role in the coming months, the lessons he learnt in his previous role, the novelist that taught him about the world, his 'secret' talent, and how he learnt the importance of concentration.
As a Senior Portfolio Specialist with Willis Towers Watson, what will your role entail?
The new role follows accelerating demand for the company's specialist investment services including enhanced advisory and portfolio management capabilities. These are solutions that expand on our traditional services. We have experienced significant demand from clients across the globe, as well as in Australia. A large subset of institutional investors have struggled to optimise their investment outcomes, partly as a result of the limited availability of solutions to fit their needs. My role is to work with these investors to figure out how to get the most out of their resources.
What are your key goals for this role over the coming 12 months?
The overall goal is to help clients improve their outcomes. We have a lot of resources to help clients build and implement successful decision making structures, consistent with their objectives and resources.
What initially drew you towards a career in finance?
I love travelling and working in finance has enabled me to see much of the world. Next, I want to go to Bidar, in India, to see the Sultan's palace.
What was the best lesson that you took away from nearly 10 years working with BlackRock Australia?
Most people working in finance in Australia are happy to talk, it's surprising how helpful people can be if you just ask!
What did you enjoy most about your time living in London when you were the Managing Director of Bank of New York?
Cycling to work, drinking Guinness in The Arbitrageur and developing a business across Europe and Asia Pacific.
Who has had the biggest influence on your life/career so far?
Apart from family influences, novelist Hilary Mantel was influential to me in explaining the world.
"I love travelling and working in finance has enabled me to see much of the world." - Oliver Berry
What's the best piece of advice that you have received?
Assume nothing.
Where did you grow up and what was it like?
Somerset, England. Friendly, wet and beautiful.
What was your very first job?
I was an apprentice carpenter. My mentor has several fingers missing which made me really concentrate.
What's something that most people don't know about you?
Occasionally, I can hit a banana forehand something like Nadal can.
