fi nance after gaining an MSc in Manage-
ment at Nyenrode Business School in the
Netherlands in 2007. Two years before, he
was awarded a bachelors degree in
Aerospace Engineering, however he found
the subject too technical. Says Vernaeve: “I
always had an interest in science and math
but I wanted to work in a fi eld where I
have more contact with people.”
After gaining his masters, Vernaeve
joined Towers Perrin in Amsterdam,
focusing on pension fund asset allocation.
However, he found consulting restrictive
Sharon Kane, CFA
and wanted the opportunity to see more
clients. “I liked the consulting part but the
Investment director – derivatives,
position wasn’t client facing. Also Standard Life Investments
consulting is broad and I defi nitely wanted
INTERVIEW BY: STUART NEWMAN
to move into a more specialised fi eld”.
Vernaeve remained at Towers Perrin
for a year before getting a job at Man
Investments last summer. He relocated to S
haron Kane was born in Saudi Arabia, and spent most of her
childhood in the Middle East. Finance was an unlikely career
for Kane – she comes from a family of scientists and
London and sat his IMC. “It’s been an pharmacists. “My career choice is slightly diff erent,” she laughs.
interesting few months, and I couldn’t Kane studied economics and fi nance at Strathclyde University
have been with a better company” he in Glasgow. In April 2004, she secured a graduate position in the
says. “In the summer everything was OK treasury department of Standard Life Investments, looking after
but then the credit crunch developed. It’s wholesale funding for Standard Life Bank. It was then she started
interesting when you fi rst join and have studying for the CFA. “Th e curriculum is so vast and covers asset
to hit the ground running in your fi rst classes you don’t learn about at university” she says. “And what
few months.” you learn in the text books, you can put into practice.”
Studying for the exam was time consuming. “Starting a
“I wanted to work in a fi eld
new job and engaging in professional study is very challenging
and you have to work hard to achieve the right work life
balance. I think it’s easier to do the exam when you’re in a
where I had more contact
graduate role and fresh out of university. You’re in the mindset
to study,” she says.
with people”
In 2006, Kane moved over to manage money market funds.
Initially she focused on Euro and Dollar AAA funds, but in
August last year she moved over to derivatives. Kane now advises,
He now spends much of his time implements and trades hedging strategies and interest rate
visiting clients, mostly in the derivates across the Standard Life group.
Netherlands. “I go to Holland two to She believes she still has a lot more to learn about the
three times a month and the Switzerland derivatives market. “I sit on a centralised desk so I get exposure
offi ce about fi ve or six times a year. I like to all the instruments we trade. In order to progress I would
it a lot.” He’s intending to stay with Man like to learn more about other instruments traded by the team.”
and would eventually like to move into a However, she still enjoys trading interest rate derivatives and
managerial position. likes having a much bigger view of the whole investment
Vernaeve does a lot of sport and used to process. “I like to constantly learn about new instruments and
be a competitive swimmer. He is in the dynamic nature of the market means I have to keep my
training for his fi rst New York City knowledge up to date.”
marathon. He also likes to take advantage When she’s not working at Standard Life, Sharon loves to
of living in London: “I’m still in the tourist travel. Last year she visited New Zealand, Th ailand, Cambodia,
phase for London. Every weekend I visit Laos and Dubai. “I saved a lot of holiday whilst studying for the
somewhere new in the city,” he says. CFA, which worked out great.”
16 SUMMER 2009
10-1610-16 profile.indd 16profile.indd 16 1/6/091/6/09 12:34:0012:34:00Professional Investor Summer 09.18 18 4/6/09 15:40:50
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