HEAD-TO-HEAD: Investec vs Natixis

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Investec’s fund manager is Clyde Rossouw, who took over the fund’s management in 2011, according to Brunt. He joined the firm in 1999 as an asset and sector allocation strategist. Before managing the fund, he managed various multi-asset, South African-focused portfolios since 2003.

Currently, Rossouw also heads Investec’s global quality team. The team has grown to 12 portfolio managers and analysts, though only four, averaging nine years of investment experience, have a truly global remit.

However, Brunt believes that given the fund’s strict investment criteria and that the investible universe is restricted to 100 names, resources are adequate.

For the Natixis fund, Rob Taylor, who was the co-manager since 2005, retired in September last year, according to Schumacher. David Herro, who is the lead manager of Oakmark International, took Taylor’s place running the non-US portion of the portfolio.

Oakmark International, like Harris Associates, is an affiliated investment manager of Natixis Global Asset Management.

In spite of the management change, Schumacher is still positive on the fund’s team, describing it as “top-notch”. Clyde McGregor, who is also a portfolio manager of the fund, took charge of the fund’s US portion in 2003. He is the most senior member of Oakmark’s investment team and has managed one of the firm’s largest funds, the Oakmark Equity and Income Fund, since its inception in 1995.

Herro also has a stellar record in his 24-year tenure at Oakmark International, according to Schumacher.

The managers are supported by 20 other portfolio managers and analysts at the firm, Schumacher said.

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