Wentworth Williamson is a boutique fund manager, owned and managed by staff.
Geoff has significant experience in law, banking and investing, and is regarded as an expert in mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings and general corporate commercial law.
Geoff is Chairman of WW and MPC and was CEO and then Executive Chairman of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited from 2001 – 2008, where he retired and became the non-executive Deputy Chairman until March 2014. Geoff previously held a number of non-executive directorships of ASX listed companies including Cromwell Property Group Limited, Specialty Fashion Group Limited, Mirvac Limited, Channel Ten, Rebel Sports Limited, Freedom Furniture Limited, Hoyts Limited and STW Limited.
Prior to Investec Bank, Geoff was a principal of Wentworth Associates, a boutique investment and advisory firm acquired by Investec Bank in 2001 and was formerly a partner of Freehills Holingdale and Page (now known as Herbert Smith Freehills, Law Firm).
Geoff has previously held positions in State and Federal Government organisations including being the initial Deputy Chairman of the Australian Sport Anti-Doping authority (ASADA), Chairman of Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited, Chairman of the NSW Government Property Asset Utilisation Taskforce, Chair of the selection panel for the Australian Film Licenced Investment Company Scheme and Chair of the NSW Attorney Review into the Public Purpose Fund, amongst others.
Geoff was appointed by the Australian Olympic Committee to be the Attaché to the South African Olympic Team at the 2000 Olympic Games. He has also been involved in several Not for Profit and Philanthropic organisations. Geoff was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2005 for his significant contribution to Sports, the Arts and Philanthropy.
He holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of New South Wales, a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Witwatersrand, a diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia.
James has approximately 20 years experience in financial markets. Between 2008 and 2012, James was Portfolio Manager of the Investec Australian Equity Fund and a member of the fund’s investment committee alongside Geoff Levy. Over this period the fund increased 26.1%, compared with the S&P/ASX 300 Accumulation Index (fund’s benchmark), which declined by 7.2%. Whilst at Investec Bank (Australia) Limited and prior to inception of the Investec Australian Equity Fund, James and Geoff developed a highly successful investment process generating outstanding returns in listed equities in the Direct Investments division of Investec Bank (Australia) Limited.
Prior to the inception of the Wentworth Williamson Fund, James worked from April 2012 until August 2013 for Allan Gray Australia Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s largest value fund managers.
Prior to joining Investec Bank (Australia) Limited, James headed a sector research team at Société Générale London. He was recognised as a leading independently rated Pan European equity research analyst, including one of the few analysts to be rated in the top 10 in a major Pan European sector in the first year of full coverage. Prior to this, James headed a sector research team at Société Générale based in Johannesburg.
James has a Bachelor of Commerce, a Graduate Diploma of the Securities Institute of Australia and is a Senior Associate of FINSIA.
Rob joined Wentworth Williamson in early 2020. He was former co-head of investment banking at Rand Merchant Bank in South Africa from 2008 to 2015.
Rob has extensive experience in institutional banking and alternative investing, including origination and structuring of the lease based structured asset finance transactions of Rand Marchant Bank.
His alternative investing experience was focused around private equity and credit funds investing in corporate and government credit at Ashburn Investments in South Africa from 2015 to 2017
Rob worked at MAIA Financial in origination and funding roles, utilising his credit industry experience from 2018 to 2020.
Martin joined Wentworth Williamson in 2016 as an equity analyst. Prior to this he worked in Switzerland and London at Stonehage Fleming, the largest global independent family office. Here he reviewed the investments of high net worth clients and also researched global stocks at the equity fund. Martin has had a passion for investing from an early age, coming from a family with a long history of value investing. He graduated from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Commerce and Applied Finance, majoring in Accounting.
Ashley joined Wentworth Williamson in early 2018 as the Head of Distribution and Investor Relations for both the Wentworth Williamson Fund and the Wentworth Williamson Stable Income Fund.
Prior to this he ran his own start-up across Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in the hospitality industry.
Whilst at university, Ashley worked at other Funds Management and Private Equity firms.
Ashley graduated from Curtin University with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Finance and Marketing.
