Head Of Credit Research

Global Head of Credit Research

This role will report directly into the Global Head of Fixed Income and take direct leadership responsibility for the Sector Heads of Credit Research. They will take a prominent place on the Fixed Income Leadership Team and be expected to contribute to the delivery of the strategic objectives for credit. This candidate will also be responsible for implementing an efficient operating model for the Credit Research team as well as positioning for the future, embracing technology and innovation in data to augment and enhance the efficiency analyst function.

This newly created role is an exciting opportunity for someone to both lead the credit research team and take responsibility for its strategic direction, driving consistency in language and approach across the sub-asset class areas. This person will be responsible for defining our client`s credit investment outlook and strategy, contributing to the firm`s Global House View, as well as other investment forums.

The successful candidate will be expected to gather regular feedback from the portfolio managers and other key stakeholders to continuously evolve and develop the contribution from the credit analysts and harness a strong relationship between analysts, portfolio managers, and the ESG team.

A high-performing credit research team is:

• Proactive and investment performance led partnering with fund managers to deliver client outcomes, actively proposing top picks for inclusion in portfolios.
• Focussed on contributing alpha to active portfolios as well as fulfilling the needs of other investment desks.
• Accountable for publishing research and ratings and recommendations in a format that is fit for purpose for the investment teams.
• Fully integrating ESG considerations into research and defining the materiality of those ESG risks
• Actively engaging with companies and contributing to investment case studies to evidence ESG integration
• Accountable for the contribution to investment performance from the credit research team across the breadth of credit strategies
• Responsibility for the framework of the Global Research Policy and the articulation of how our client integrates ESG within research and recommendations.

Experience:

• Exceptionally good communicator and ability to lead a large team.
• Previous people leadership or the ability to demonstrate role modelling, mentoring, and coaching to support people development
• Understanding of the commercial and operational values of ESG integration and engagement.
• Awareness of technological and data advancements and best-in-class approaches to credit research in the marketplace
• Focused on challenging the status quo to drive a high-performing and collegiate team.

Updated Job Spec (03/08/2024):

Role: Global Head of Credit Research

Location: London

Client: Leading Global Asset Manager

We have partnered with a leading global asset manager looking to hire a Global Head of Credit research in a newly created role. Our client is renowned for their innovative investment strategies and commitment to sustainable growth, while also having an extensive portfolio spanning multiple asset classes. Additionally, the firm has an excellent working culture, low employee turnover, and is dedicated to delivering superior investment performance while maintaining a collaborative and inclusive culture.

Role Overview

The Global Head of Credit Research will lead the strategic direction of the firm`s credit research capabilities on a global scale. Reporting directly to the Global Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Fixed Income, this newly created role is crucial to shaping the future of credit research within the organization.

The successful candidate will be a key member of the Fixed Income Leadership Team, responsible for implementing an efficient operating model, driving consistency, and ensuring excellence across various credit subsectors globally.

The position involves managing a high-performing team of 20-25 analysts, including four sector heads (direct reports), and requires close collaboration with Portfolio Managers to align research outputs with strategic objectives. Another key focus on the role will be on technological innovation to enhance research capabilities and team efficiency.

Fixed Income Team Overview

This role sits within the fixed income team, which currently manages approximately £105 billion in credit assets globally. This includes a strong presence in Investment Grade (IG), as well as a sizeable High Yield (HY) team and approximately £3 billion AUM in EM Debt. The team has 14-16 Portfolio Managers across various countries and geographies.

Recent high-profile hires at the leadership level have bolstered the team’s profile, and efforts are ongoing to expand credit research and portfolio management capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 25 analysts, including four sector heads as direct reports, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Develop and implement a forward-looking operating model that ensures consistency and excellence in credit research across sectors
• Drive technological innovation to enhance research capabilities and team efficiency.
• Collaborate with Portfolio Managers to ensure research aligns with the firm`s strategic objectives and contributes to strong investment performance.
• Define the credit investment outlook and strategy, contributing to the firm`s Global House View and other investment forums.
• Gather regular feedback from portfolio managers and key stakeholders to ensure continued close working relationships between the analysts, portfolio managers, and the ESG team.
• Ensure consistent quality of research across the credit team

Requirements & Qualifications

• Extensive experience in credit research with strong leadership capabilities and a deep understanding of global credit markets.
• Proven commitment to embracing technological advancements and a track record of driving innovation in research processes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and diplomatically to senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success in building credibility and respect with Portfolio Managers and other stakeholders.
• Experience leading sizeable teams, serving as a role model, mentoring, and coaching to support people development.
• Philosophical alignment with the role, breaking down silos, and embracing the globalization of credit as an asset class.
• Strong understanding of regulatory demands, ESG integration, and commercial and operational values of credit research.
• Ability to work collaboratively across the spectrum of IG, HY, and EM credit sectors.
• Experience managing a credit research team that actively contributes to investment performance and client outcomes.

Key Characteristics

• Pragmatic with the ability to see the bigger picture and drive consistency across the credit research spectrum
• Embracing technology as an enabler and fosters a common language among analysts
• Diplomatic in managing varying and evolving requests from different Portfolio Managers
• Inquisitive with attention to detail, understanding regulation, and setting minimum standards for investment appropriateness
• Capable of leading credit committees with a balanced approach, maintaining input in challenging situations