Man Group PLC

Education: LSE, BSc Economics
Graduated: 2006
Job Title: Graduate Trainee
Current Business Area: Man Investments
Location: London
Hobbies & Interests: Seeing my friends, spending time in new parts of London, cooking, photography and rowing.

There were plenty of reasons for me to join Man. They’re an industry leader, with a great reputation and they pay real attention to Corporate Responsibility. It’s a friendly, collegiate environment that’s all about exchanging ideas and bouncing things around with others. I also like the exposure. Not just in the work I do but the access to senior people. The rotational nature of the scheme means you really understand the different parts of the business.

I started in late 2007 in Product Development and, since March have been working with the Head of Business Management to look at how we run the business from a commercial and operational point of view. As well as this, I’m reviewing our investment process and which hedge fund managers we use. It’s a great way to see the business from end to end.

To work here I think you really need to be curious, innovative and take a methodical approach to what you do. We don’t have the ‘star’ culture that is seen at many City firms and that means you’re always supported in what you do. For instance, I’m taking the first of my CFA exams in December, which the company is not only sponsoring, but allowing study leave for. It’s just that sort of a place.

Whatever the future holds, we’ll see. But I’m pretty confident that as Man is well positioned in the investment sector (and has been around for 225 years!) that there will be plenty of interesting and challenging things for me to get my teeth into going forward.