Our approach
Watch this three-minute video to hear David Cumming, Chief Investment Officer, Equities, explain the benefits of being active investors without style constraint in today's climate. He also describes how we integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in to our investment approach and what he believes makes us different.
Active, fundamental and responsible
Our integrated and disciplined investment process provides the framework and confidence for portfolios to have high active shares. We use our access to company management to gain an information advantage, driving non-consensus views. In contrast to ETF and passive investors, we direct our resource towards fundamental analysis and being on the right side of change.
ESG is a core, integrated input into our investment process. We actively assess individual company ESG performance and risk factors. In conjunction with our Global Responsible Investment (GRI) team we continually engage with companies to promote positive change and monitor the long-term value of our investments.
Benefits
Our investment advantage.
Connected thinking
A common investment language embedded across all regions and sectors facilitates the delivery of sharp and effective connected thinking. Enhanced by direct company contact and integrated information flows from GRI, macro, multi-asset, credit teams, our process ensures all relevant investment information is surfaced when making each stock selection decision.
Key risks
The value of an investment and any income from it can go down as well as up and can fluctuate in response to changes in currency and exchange rates. Investors may not get back the original amount invested.
A globally integrated team with extensive experience
David Cumming
Chief Investment Officer, Equities and Head of UK Equities
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Mikhail Zverev
Head of Global Equities
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Susan Schmidt
Head of US Equities
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Frédéric Tassin
Head of Pan-European Equities
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Francois de Bruin
Fund Manager, Sustainable Income & Growth and Head of Listed Real Estate
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Alistair Way
Head of Global Emerging Market Equities
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Need more information?
For further information, please contact our investment sales team.
Equities views
Health first: Finding resilience in pharmaceuticals
2 Jul 2020
COVID-19 has led to a new appreciation of the importance of healthcare in ensuring all members of society thrive. So where should investors be looking to find resilience in an industry facing enormous change?
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Why COVID-19 is unlikely to trigger a fresh financial crisis
1 Jul 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, Oliver Judd and Jaime Ramos Martin explain why banks are well-placed to withstand the economic fallout from COVID-19.
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What do rising US-China tensions mean for global markets?
24 Jun 2020
In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, Aviva Investors experts discuss the prospects for financial markets and the world economy in the face of escalating hostilities between the US and China.
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Defined Benefit pensions de-risking: A covenant and investment view
23 Jun 2020
In the midst of the COVID-19 shock, Felix Mantz from Lincoln Pensions and Joachim Sudre from Aviva Investors explore how defined benefit pension schemes should plan their journey towards an end game and adopt a more holistic approach to risk.
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What makes a company resilient in a crisis?
9 Jun 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic hits global economies, equity investors are redoubling their focus on corporate resilience. But what does resilience mean in the current context – and which companies have it?
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Cinderella science? Why portfolio construction holds the key to resilient investment outcomes
9 Jun 2020
It is one thing to have a good investment idea, but quite another to extract the maximum potential from that idea and combine it with others to create an optimal portfolio. This is where portfolio construction comes in.
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Equities and COVID-19: Now is not the time to double-down on uncertainty
21 May 2020
As the effects of COVID-19 continue to rip through societies and economies, Trevor Green explains why adding uncertainty on top of uncertainty is never a good investment strategy. He outlines three critical, but simple, rules for navigating the current equity market.
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COVID-19: The impact on global equities
28 Apr 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic wreaks havoc on global economies, Giles Parkinson assesses the impact across equity markets and the longer-term implications for investors.
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Size matters: Will COVID-19 lead to a concentration of corporate power?
22 Apr 2020
The fallout from the coronavirus pandemic could see large firms cement their dominance over weaker rivals. We examine the implications for investors.
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Are investors too complacent about the coronavirus?
21 Feb 2020
In the latest of our editorial series, Link, AIQ brings members of Aviva Investors’ investment strategy, equity and debt teams together to discuss the prospects for financial markets and the world economy in the face of the coronavirus epidemic.
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Cwtch: Has capitalism gone cuddly?
18 Feb 2020
In the first of a new editorial series, Link, AIQ brings together people from across Aviva Investors to debate topical themes. Mirza Baig and Stephanie Niven consider whether CEO claims about running businesses for multiple stakeholders rather than shareholders alone is a grand idea or just plain grandstanding.
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Dealing with climate change: A mixture of mitigation and adaptation
4 Dec 2019
The asset management industry has a key role to play in the face of the climate emergency facing humanity. We spoke to Emma Haziza, hydrologist, PhD Mines ParisTech, Founder and President of Mayane, and Rick Stathers, Climate Specialist at Aviva Investors to find out how asset managers can support companies in their climate transition efforts.
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In a complex market, investors need to connect information signals more effectively
19 Nov 2019
A growing body of research suggests equity investors are poor at recognising the connections and interrelationships between companies. A fresh approach is needed, argues Mikhail Zverev, head of global equities at Aviva Investors.
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5G: Anatomy of an equity investment idea
11 Nov 2019
The evolution of wireless technology has fuelled a host of new mobile applications and helped propel companies such as Netflix. 5G, its next iteration, promises speeds up to 20 times faster than the current 4G. But to think only in terms of speed severely underestimates 5G’s potential to fundamentally transform the business landscape – though not without tremendous risk.
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Back to the future: Dr Eric Topol on AI in healthcare
3 Oct 2019
In the final article in our series on healthcare, we speak to the renowned cardiologist and author Eric Topol about his new book, Deep Medicine.
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Substance over style?
30 Sep 2019
Why an agnostic approach beats equity style biases.
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