Mona has been a supporter of ACT, and a member of the ACT Stewardship council, from the very beginning. As a client director at St James’s Place, and a passionate advocate for the intersection of good culture and good client outcomes, she brings close to three decades of industry experience to stewardship discussions. This experience includes investment risk and oversight; cultural, operational, regulatory and organisational change implementation; product management and governance; and a deep understanding of the broad expectation of the FCA’s Consumer Duty.

Q1. Why is corporate culture important when deciding to whom assets are allocated? 

A good company culture is an indicator of how well decisions are made, and we want our investment managers to make well informed, challenged and robust decisions that ensures that investors achieve outcomes as expected. A corporate culture that invites diverse thinking and encourages challenge, that have in place appropriate governance, and that demonstrates empowerment and trust in its people, is, I believe, more likely to succeed on behalf of its clients. I also strongly believe that it is almost impossible for investment firms to demonstrate how they are acting to achieve good outcomes for (retail) clients, without a well defined and aligned corporate culture.  

 Q2. In your view, why is it important to set a higher standard of stewardship and behaviour within the investment industry?

Millions of people trust us with their money. We need to show them, prove to them, why they should continue to do so. Through ACT, we have a framework to demonstrate how a transparent and supportive stewardship improves outcomes for all.

Q3. Why did you decide to sit on the ACT Stewardship Council and what does it mean to you personally?

The opportunity to participate in influencing our industry for the better is a privilege and I am very proud to be a supporter of City Hive ACT, as a member of the ACT Stewardship Council.