Q&A with Alistair Drummond
After a decade at J.P. Morgan, Alistair Drummond has re-joined Contango, the company he co-founded and worked at for many years. We speak with the 'investment manager who became a stockbroker who became an investment manager again' to find out what drew him back. And we discover a secret skill that he almost forgot he had.
After a decade at J.P. Morgan, Alistair Drummond has re-joined Contango, the company he co-founded and worked at for many years. We speak with the 'investment manager who became a stockbroker who became an investment manager again' to find out what drew him back. And we discover a secret skill that he almost forgot he had.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role at Contango?
I'm most looking forward to the diversity of the role. It will be really interesting assisting the CIO, George Boubouras and the team, to implement strategy and to help deliver Contango's products and investment views to both wholesale and retail clients. Additionally the idea of having been an investment manager who became a stockbroker who became an investment manager again really appeals.
What initially drew you to take up the position?
The opportunity to return to the buy-side after a decade on the sell-side was one motivating factor but the idea of going back to the firm that I was one of the initial shareholders in certainly played a part in my thinking. I have been given a great opportunity to be a participant in some exciting new products which Contango is developing and George's enthusiasm is certainly infectious. I have also always believed in Contango's joint top down and bottom up investment approach given that economics and the business cycle have a direct impact on the performance of most companies.
What is one of the best pieces of advice you have ever been given?
No one person has a mortgage on intelligence.
What was your very first job?
Driving a bread truck to make deliveries between Leongatha and Phillip Island during a university holiday. Getting up at 3:30am wasn't ideal but racing a mate in another truck and trying to beat the governor on the accelerator was entertaining.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Albury, grew up in Leongatha and went to boarding school in Melbourne.
Do you have a secret skill/hidden talent?
If I do the skill is very secret and the talent is very hidden. I'm the classic jack of all trades and master of none.
[Editor's note: The next day we received the following response...] Though I can actually crack a stock whip so perhaps that is a special skill.
Is there a particular charity or cause that you support?
I sponsored a child in Guatemala for quite a number of years but these days I tend to give some money to local charities.
