Welcome to the STANLIB Asset Management Offshore Summit 2025, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Asset Management - an exclusive gathering where global investment professionals cut through the noise to uncover what's next.
Cutting through the noise: What's Next?
The world is experiencing heightened political polarisation, shifting economic policies, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. As events unfold rapidly, it is essential to distinguish media hype from market impact.

At this year's Offshore Summit, we bring you insights that matter to separate the signals from the noise and help you navigate short-term market dynamics and understand longer-term structural risks.

From the implications of US policy shifts and China's evolving economic influence to building resilient investment portfolios, our distinguished speakers will provide the insights you need to stay ahead of the forces shaping global markets and investing.

As your trusted offshore partner, STANLIB Asset Management, in collaboration with J.P. Morgan Asset Management, remains committed to providing world-class expertise and investment solutions tailored for the future.

Our agenda is continuously evolving to ensure it delivers the most relevant and up-to-date insights. Be sure to check back regularly for speaker announcements and updates in the coming months. You'll also have the chance to be part of the conversation by submitting your questions - whether on key topics or to specific speakers - for consideration ahead of the summit.

09:00 - 10:00
Breakfast & Registration
Skip traffic and join us for coffee and a light breakfast
10:00 - 10:05
Welcome & Housekeeping
10:05 - 10:15
Opening
Mark Lovett - Head: Investments, STANLIB Asset Management
10:15 - 11:00
Insider insights from Trump 1.0: What can we expect from Trump 2.0?
Speaker: Lord Kim Darroch | The Lord Darroch of Kew KCMG
11:00 - 11:15
Audience Q&A session with Kevin Lings and Lord Darroch
Speaker: Lord Kim Darroch | The Lord Darroch of Kew KCMG
Hosted by: Kevin Lings - Chief Economist, STANLIB Asset Management
11:15 - 11:45
Morning Tea
11:45 - 12:30
Economic analysis with an emphasis on China and Asia
In conversation:
Stephen D King | Former HSBC Group Chief Economist | Author & Commentator on Global Economic Trends & Henry Munzara - Deputy Head: Investments, STANLIB Asset Management
12:30 - 13:15
Global macro (markets and asset class focus)
Karen Ward - Chief Strategist: EMEA, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
13:15 - 14:15
LUNCH BREAK
14:15 - 14:55
Diversification and the Search for Alpha in a Correlated World
Fireside Chat: Katy Thorneycroft - Chief Investment Officer of Multi-Asset Solutions International, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
& Marius Oberholzer - Head: Multi-Asset, STANLIB Asset Management
14:55 - 15:15
TED talk 1
We're keeping this slot open to secure the best possible speaker, aligned with the most relevant and pressing topics come October. Keep checking in for agenda updates
14:15 - 15:35
TED talk 2
We're keeping this slot open to secure the best possible speaker, aligned with the most relevant and pressing topics come October. Keep checking in for agenda updates
15:35 - 16:00
Afternoon Tea
16:00 - 16:40
George Gatch, CEO J.P. Morgan Asset Management in (virtual) conversation
George Gatch, CEO J.P. Morgan Asset Management in (virtual) conversation
16:40 - 17:20
Future-Proofing Value: What Asset Managers Can Learn from the Luxury Market
In conversation:
Nasr Benaissa, Breitling Chief Commercial Officer
17:20 - 17:30
Wrap up & Closing
Mark Lovett - Head: Investments, STANLIB Asset Management
17:30 - Onwards
Networking Cocktails
This year's Offshore Summit will be hosted at the Norval Foundation in Steenberg, Cape Town.
Address: Norval Foundation | Art Museum
4 Steenberg Road
Tokai
Cape Town


There is ample secure parking onsite and we are well prepared to keep you warm and dry in the event of inclement weather. We recommend that you use an e-hailing service if you are joining us for the networking cocktail.

George Gatch - CEO J.P. Morgan Asset Management
George C.W. Gatch is CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset Management. He joined the firm in 1986, and during his tenure, has helped build one of the world's leading asset managers.

Today, J.P. Morgan Asset Management operates in over 25 countries, with a clear mission of becoming the most trusted asset manager and helping clients with their most complex investment needs. The business manages over $2.5 trillion across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset solutions on behalf of institutional, sovereign and retail clients globally. George chairs the Asset Management Operating Committee and also serves on the Asset and Wealth Management Operating Committee.

Prior to his current role, George held a number of senior roles across J.P. Morgan Asset Management including building out the mutual fund business globally, overseeing the Global Funds and Institutional client businesses, and running the firm's mutual fund joint venture in Japan, DKB Morgan. He is currently Vice Chair of the Investment Company Institute (served as Chair from 2018 to 2021) and member of the board, advocating for shareholders globally. George received a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

As the father of five, including 2 daughters, George is passionate about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He is the Executive Sponsor and co-founder of J.P. Morgan's Men as Ambassadors Program. George is also the Executive Sponsor of the Asset & Wealth Management Black Leadership Forum and chairs the Black Managing Director Roundtable in Asset Management.

George currently lives in NYC with his wife and children and enjoys traveling, cooking with family and spending time outdoors—hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain bike riding and playing tennis. An avid mountaineer, he is also a member of the board of directors of New York's Mohonk Preserve, New York's largest land trust. Speed is safety

Experienced mountaineers live by the adage 'speed is safety', because the longer they are on a mountain face, the more likely they will find trouble. However, if they have a bias toward speed - toward action - they reduce their exposure and increase their chances of getting down the mountain safely. I tend to agree and think this adage extends into business. In a rapidly changing industry, managers need to maintain their long-term focus, while also remaining incredibly agile in the face of new challenges and opportunities. I often tell my team: “I will gladly pay your speeding ticket, but I will not pay your parking ticket. Speed is safety.”​
Gugulethu Mfuphi - Host
Gugulethu is an award winner and a well-versed orator, with plenty of experience in front of cameras, behind the microphone and addressing many diverse audiences. This skill, together with her sound grasp of the Financial Markets, Economic Data and Current Affairs, make her the perfect candidate to speak to Industry Analysts or Political Leaders and C-Suite executives from all across the African continent.

This forms the basis of her tasks and responsibilities as Presenter of Kaya FM's prime time, award winning business show: Kaya Bizz, and her experience as Senior Anchor on CNBC Africa.

Gugulethu has also served as an experienced conference chair, panel discussion moderator and programme director, at various industry gatherings that impact the business and investment landscape.

She has facilitated the second annual South African Investment Conference in 2019, hosted by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa. Having previously worked for other institutions like Talk Radio 702, SAfm, Lotus FM and The City Press Newspaper, through their affiliation with MoneyWeb, Gugulethu has gained a wealth of experience in financial journalism through radio, TV, print and online media.
HENRY MUNZARA - DEPUTY HEAD: INVESTMENTS, STANLIB
Henry, who joined STANLIB in January 2007 is deputy Head of Investments. Together with the Head of Investments, he is responsible for providing investment oversight, and ensuring investment outcomes across different capabilities are consistent with client objectives and are market relevant and commercial. He is a member of the Investment Exco, member of the Fixed Income Credit Committee, member of the Investment Risk Committee and is chairperson of the ESG Committee.

Henry has held different roles at STANLIB, including as co-head of the Absolute Return franchise investing across different asset classes, as head of research and has also been responsible for driving STANLIB business strategy in the CEO's office.

Prior to joining STANLIB, Henry was at Old Mutual Asset Management (now Old Mutual Investment Group SA) where he was part of the research team and co-managed the award-winning Industrials Fund. He was also an Equity Analyst at Investec Securities and was a rated analyst.

Henry holds a BA (Honours) Economics from the University of Westminster, London, obtained in 1996, and completed the Global Executive Development Programme at the GIBS Business School in 2013.
Karen Ward - Chief Market Strategist for EMEA, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Karen has considerable experience in both public policymaking, and economic and financial analysis. Before joining the team in 2017, she was Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In this role she advised the Chancellor on macroeconomic issues including fiscal strategy and Brexit.

Prior to this she worked for a decade at HSBC's investment bank in a number of roles, including Senior Global Economist where her work included "The World in 2050 - An Analysis of the Structural Changes Affecting the Global Economy and the Rise of the Emerging Economies."

She was Chief European Economist before leaving to work for the Chancellor in 2016. She started her career at the Bank of England providing supporting analysis for the Monetary Policy Committee. Karen has a Masters with Distinction in Economics from University College London.
Katy Thorneycroft - Chief Investment Officer of Multi-Asset Solutions International, J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Katy manages Global Tactical Asset Allocation, balanced, flexible and total return portfolios and is responsible for the international multi-asset investment activities in London, Hong Kong and Taipei. Katy is a Director of JPMAM International and JPMAM UK. An employee since 1999, Katy was previously a portfolio manager in the convertible bonds team and a member of the Multi-Asset Solutions team in New York with a focus on target date funds and core balanced portfolios. Prior to this, Katy was a portfolio manager in the European Equity group in London focusing on small and mid-cap strategies. Katy is a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and is a former co-chair of the EMEA DEI Working Group for JPMorgan Asset Management. Katy obtained a M.Chem. from the University of Oxford and is a CFA charterholder.
Kevin Lings - CHIEF ECONOMIST, STANLIB ASSET MANAGEMENT
Kevin joined then-Liberty Asset Management as an economic analyst in 2001. As STANLIB's Chief Economist, he is responsible for domestic and global economic research and forecasts. Kevin also provides input into STANLIB's asset allocation processes and provides relevant economic research for our Fixed Income, Property and Equity teams.

He joined Liberty Asset Management from J.P. Morgan Chase, where he was a member of their macroeconomic research team, providing economic research and analysis to the broader asset management industry in South Africa. Prior professional experience was built as a senior economist within the Nedcor group.

Kevin has an honours degree in economics from Wits University, specialising in international and public-sector finance. He is a widely sought-after media commentator, and has had a number of journal articles published, internationally as well as locally.

From the mid-1990s to mid-2000s, Kevin lectured economics, part-time at Wits Business School.

Kevin is author of a book, The Missing Pieces: Solving South Africa's Economic Puzzle.
Lord Kim Darroch | The Lord Darroch of Kew KCMG
Lord Darroch is a retired UK civil servant and life peer in the House of Lords. His diplomatic career spanned over 40 years, primarily focusing on national security issues and European policy. Most recently, Lord Darroch served as the British Ambassador to the United States (2016-2019). Prior to Washington, he was National Security Adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron (2012-2015), and in that role, oversaw issues such as the rise of Daesh in Iraq and Syria, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the collapse of government authority in Libya.

In addition, he worked in senior roles on UK-EU policy and multilateral negotiations, including spells as Permanent Representative to the European Union (2007-2011) and as EU Adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair (2004-2007).

Earlier in his career, Lord Darroch worked in a wide range of positions and policy specialties, including Private Secretary to Minister of State for the Middle East, Head of the Adriatic Department during the Dayton Accord negotiations, and as Head of the News Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In addition to his two ambassadorial postings, Lord Darroch completed tours in Brussels, Rome, and Tokyo.

In 1997, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG), and as a Knight Commander (KCMG) in 2008. In 2019, he was made a life peer in the House of Lords. He was born in 1954 in the village of South Stanley, County Durham in the North of England. He attended Durham University, where he read Zoology, and joined the Diplomatic Service in 1977. He married his wife, Vanessa, in 1978. They have two adult children, Simon and Georgina.
Marius Oberholzer - HEAD: MULTI-ASSET, STANLIB ASSET MANAGEMENT
Marius Oberholzer assumed sole leadership of the Multi-Strategy team in 2015. He and his team manage assets spanning Absolute Return Funds, Multi Strategy Funds and Hedge Funds alongside more traditional Multi-Asset Funds. The team designs, deploys and risk manages assets across the globe, deploying capital using qualitative and quantitative techniques and utilising passive, active, listed and unlisted assets on both a direct and indirect basis to deliver required client outcomes.

Before joining STANLIB Marius gained global investment experience working in London and Hong Kong, trading and then managing some of TT International Hedge Fund's products, combining his and the team's direct investment strategies both on a bottom up and top-down macro basis as well as providing insights across the firm's other Hedge and Long-Only investment offerings. When Marius returned to South Africa, he was involved in corporate finance activities, private market deals and structuring before joining STANLIB as Co-Head of Absolute Returns.

At STANLIB, in addition to portfolio management responsibilities across Multi-Strategy, Absolute Return, Hedge Funds and leading the Multi-Strategy team, Marius chairs and drives the STANLIB platform Asset Allocation meetings. He is a member of Investment Exco and is the licenced Key Individual for STANLIB's Hedge Fund business. Marius has previously represented STANLIB's infrastructure investments interests as a non-executive director of South African Toll Road Company (Pty) Ltd until the assets were sold. He served as a non-executive director of M-Fitec, a listed Fintech special purpose acquisition company from 2016 until December 2017, representing STANLIB and its client's interests.

Marius' knowledge, background and experience in public and private markets, cross-asset class practical knowledge and experience combined with his derivative trading and risk management processes make him uniquely suited and qualified to drive STANLIB's growth into Multi-Strategy investing.

Marius holds a BCom (Economics and Commercial Law) from the University of Stellenbosch and a MSc (Global Finance) from the Stern School of Business at New York University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He also holds the IMC UK investment qualification.
MARK LOVETT - HEAD: INVESTMENTS, STANLIB ASSET MANAGEMENT
Mark joined STANLIB Asset Management as Head of Investments in November 2017 to enhance investment performance and help position the firm for growth.

Regarded as an industry turnaround specialist, he has over 30 years of experience in the global asset management industry and a wealth of business and investment expertise spanning various asset classes.

Notably, Mark has been instrumental in revitalising the investment credibility of three asset management firms over the past two decades, playing key roles within senior management teams.

In his most recent position as the Chief Investment Officer for Equities at Nordea Asset Management, Mark oversaw equities, private equity, and responsible investments across four countries. He successfully executed his mandate to enhance investment performance and optimise the boutique structure within Nordea, demonstrating his strategic leadership and operational acumen.

During his tenure at Allianz Global Investors, Mark played a pivotal role in transforming the European equities business, strategically positioning it as a core component of the Group's European platform.

As the Deputy Chief Investment Officer at Ignis Asset Management, Mark formulated and executed a successful growth strategy by improving investment performance and introducing new products to drive business expansion. His experience at Ignis, an asset manager affiliated with an insurer managing both captive and third-party assets, mirrors the environment at STANLIB.
Nasr Benaissa - Breitling Chief Commercial Officer
To be provided

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Stephen D King | Former HSBC Group Chief Economist | Author & Commentator on Global Economic Trends
Stephen King is an economist and author. Stephen's fourth book, 'We Need to Talk About Inflation,' was published by Yale in April 2023 to widespread critical acclaim. The Financial Times described the book as “highly readable and informative…essential reading for economic policymakers everywhere” while the Times said it was “brilliantly clear and concise”. Mervyn King, former Governor of the Bank of England, described it as “timely, well-researched and very well-written”.

His last book, 'Grave New World: The End of Globalization, the Return of History' (Yale, 2017), was long-listed for the FT-McKinsey Business Book of the Year and later picked as a 'book of the year' by the Financial Times. It has since been translated into multiple languages.

Between 2018 and 2023, Stephen was a regular columnist for the London Evening Standard. He has also written for, among others, the Financial Times, the Times, the Independent and the New York Times. Between 2015 and the 2017 General Election, he was a Special Adviser to the House of Commons Treasury Committee. In 2023, he was invited to provide oral evidence on inflation to both the Treasury Committee and the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee. Stephen is an accomplished public speaker and has presented at conferences all over the world.

As part of a portfolio of interests and following 17 years as HSBC's Chief Global Economist, Stephen was appointed HSBC's Senior Economic Adviser in 2015. Stephen's career began at H.M.Treasury, where he was an economic adviser within the civil service. Stephen studied at New College, Oxford. In his spare time, he plays the piano.
If you have a question for one of our speakers, for their consideration prior to the conference, please submit your question in the form below:


Make sure you check back on our agenda and speaker updates as we draw closer to the summit date.
Contact us at STANLIBOffshoreSummit@STANLIBevents.co.za, or call or WhatsApp at +27 (0)66 434 3574. Click here to send a WhatsApp.

We will be communicating with you via WhatsApp closer to the time. Click here to join our WhatsApp group for updates and important notifications.
  • Please note that CPD points will be allocated for in-person attendance at the Summit, if required.
  • CPD points will be allocated based on the percentage of the summit you attend. Attendance will be tracked at the venue, so please ensure you scan in and out on the day to validate your attendance and earn your CPD points.
  • If you indicated a requirement for a CPD certificate and submitted your ID during the registration process, a certificate will be shared with you after the event, based on your attendance. The timeline for this shall be communicated post-event.


For any inquiries, feel free to contact us at
STANLIBOffshoreSummit@STANLIBevents.co.za or reach out via call or WhatsApp at +27 (0)66 434 3574. Click here to send a WhatsApp.
2024 Highlights
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