Pat Hayes, who heads up State Street’s hedge fund business in Ireland, meets with members of its 1,000 strong workforce through an employee townhall meeting that brings together local employees and the teams in Jersey, Poland and the US. The townhall meeting gives him a chance to meet with employees and brief them on the company’s performance. State Street’s hedge fund business services a significant proportion of the 40 per cent of the world’s alternative investment funds that are adminstered in Ireland and Hayes says ‘we will continue to grow the business and provide opportunities for the many talented and highly qualified people in Ireland.’

Anthony Linehan, B.A., M.A.,is head of fixed interest, portfolio risk and management, and director at KBC Asset Management. He says that the primary skill required to be a fund manager is an analytical mind one which can analyse a lot of data, get to the key points, or drivers, be this in regard to a company or a country/economy. An abiding interest in the world around you is also an essential attribute.