In this first newsletter of the year, Charlie Grant, Founder of Fund HQ, reflects on the past year and the firm’s outlook for 2025.
Now that we are comfortably settled into 2025, it is a fitting time to reflect on Fund HQ’s achievements in 2024 and to look ahead to the coming year. Last year was exceptional, not only due to the milestones reached by Fund HQ but also because of the outstanding individuals and partnerships that contributed to our success.
Over the course of 2024, Fund HQ received notable recognition within the industry for various achievements. Our Chair and Founder, Maria O’Connor, was recognised as a finalist for Investment Week’s ‘Women in Investment’ Awards, acknowledging her contributions to diversity and leadership. Furthermore, Maria was honoured with the ‘Asset Management Leader of the Year’ award by Acquisition International Magazine – a well-deserved recognition for her adept guidance in the complex wind down of a multi-manager – as well as for securing the prestigious ‘Hedge Fund of the Year’ accolade.
Fund HQ was also acknowledged at the HFM European Services Awards, where we were nominated for ‘Best Outsourced Provider.’ We take great pride in this nomination, as it reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation, client service and sustained growth.
2024 also reminded us of the importance of conversations, whether on a stage or with industry peers and publications. Maria contributed valuable insights at the With Intelligence HFM Global EU Legal Summit, while I had the privilege of speaking at the Emerging Managers Knowledge Exchange (EMKx) about the unique challenges faced by emerging fund managers.
Maria’s participation in Taylor Root’s interview series highlighted the crucial role of Fractional General Counsels in today’s business world. Additionally, I was delighted to be featured in The Drawdown, where I discussed the increasing adoption of the ‘outsourced CFO’ model among private equity firms. Among these engagements, Maria and I also filmed our own interview series for LinkedIn.
2024 was also a period of expansion for Fund HQ. We were delighted to relocate to our new London office, which enhances our capacity to serve our clients. Furthermore, we welcomed Olga Romanova as our new Head of Operational Due Diligence. With over 20 years of experience, Olga has already provided fresh perspectives and invaluable support to both our team and clients, and we look forward to offering her services to new clients in the future.
Last year we also saw significant client growth and successful fund launches. Among the most noteworthy was the establishment of a $500 million equity long-only Cayman fund and a UK management company, in addition to several other new launches of, in total, approximately $800 million in launch assets.
Equally gratifying were the less visible but no less important achievements, such as the successful wind down of Odey Asset Management LLP and the seamless transition of its funds/portfolio management teams to new management entities. These milestones reaffirm our mission at Fund HQ: to bring clarity and stability to the often complex landscape of fund management.
Looking ahead, 2025 will be an exciting year for Fund HQ. We are preparing for significant developments within the business, including new products, and look forward to sharing more details in the near future. These initiatives will enable us to grow alongside our clients, further enhancing the value and support we provide in the years to come.
None of these achievements would have been possible without our clients, partners and exceptional team. Whether you have been with us for many years or have recently joined our journey, your trust, collaboration and belief in what we do are the reason we are here.
As we continue to evolve in 2025, I am excited to have you with us on Fund HQ’s journey. Here’s to another year of progress, meaningful connections and continued success.
