Today, Elisabeth Sterner, head of the Nordic region at BlackRock, shares her thoughts on the Nordic region and what she sees as some of the trends among Nordic investors.
My name is… Elisabeth Sterner
I work for… BlackRock as Head of the Nordic region
The company has been active in the Nordic region since… 2008 when we opened an office in Stockholm. Since then, our presence has grown steadily, reflecting the region’s strategic importance to our global business. Today, we are the largest international asset manager in the Nordic region, a testament to the trust Nordic clients have placed in us.
And I have been active in the region since…1972, but my journey in finance began in the mid-90s with roles at Aros Fondkommission and ABB Investment Management.
I’m currently based in… Stockholm but travel the region frequently.
We do most business in…all areas and regions where we are selected by our clients. Our Nordic business is highly diversified across markets, client segments and products. Our aim is to be the partner of choice to our clients across investment solutions and technology.
Our AUM in the Nordic region…is currently at circa USD 150 billion across Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland and the Baltic region.
My favourite hotels in the Nordic region are…hotels that prioritise comfort rather than design. For my work trips, good sleep and a healthy breakfast is key and in Copenhagen, which is the city I travel to most frequently, I stay at the Comwell in Nordhavn.
My favourite event venues in the Nordic region are…the ones that are flexible to accommodate different settings and have good quality technology. Operaterassen is an old favourite with a stunning view of Stockholm’s ström and the royal palace.
When we arrange client meetings/presentations we prefer to hold these… in our offices whenever possible. We are especially proud of our new long-term office solution in Stockholm with nice views.
The clearest trend among fund selectors and institutional investors in the Nordics right now is… A strategic rethink around their sourcing strategy, deciding what makes sense to manage internally and where they should partner with an external provider. We continue to see clients consolidate to do more with fewer providers, and we are well-positioned to evolve relationships with our clients as part of that trend.
Fund selectors and institutional investors in the Nordic region worry most (talk most) about… the uncertain geopolitical landscape and how to best position the portfolio for the future, e.g. how to capitalise on the greater dispersion in the new macro regime.
Fund selectors and institutional investors in the Nordic region should consider… partnering with firms that combine local insights with global reach. That’s how you stay ahead of megatrends and market shifts.
Currently I see most demand for… a diversified set of investment strategies, but there is a clearly growing interest in systematic investing. Data and technology are reshaping alpha generation – making it more efficient, scalable and accessible than ever before, and clients are eager to understand how they can benefit from the rise of AI in generating alpha.
