Empowering People for Growth
Following a period of dramatic growth, Waystone stands out in the asset management services industry. We talked with Denis Harty, Country Head, and Alexandra Serban-Liebsch, Head of Business Operations, about how the company has achieved this. Interview.
What is Waystone, and what makes you stand out?
Waystone is an international group providing services to the asset management industry. Waystone has a presence across the globe with 27 international locations and over 1,800 professionals. We deliver services across three product lines. The first, regulated fund solutions, focuses on third party management company solutions. The second is our alternative administration product line. The last one is compliance solutions, where we provide compliance consulting, RC services in Luxembourg, and related compliance solutions services. We’re the number one third party management company in Ireland and the UK, and the fastest growing here in Luxembourg with an exceptional 37% growth in AUM in 2023.
Our differentiators include our partnership approach with clients, our pro business solutions focus and our insatiable appetite to be deploy the most coherent and advanced tech solutions in the market.
How has Waystone grown in recent years?
We started back in 2003 as a single product, single domicile, founder owned business, addressing fund governance in Luxembourg. In 2020, the Luxembourg entity integrated into what was to become the Waystone group, and since then, our portfolio of services has developed.
We endeavour to differentiate ourselves by being a partner to our clients, so it’s not only about the day-to-day support but about being their eyes and their ears on the ground, being in contact with the market and with the regulator to ensure that our client can focus on their core activity. We’re a global player, a one stop solution providing consistent services across 27 jurisdictions.
We are highly diverse with staff coming from 30 nations and speaking 36 languages in the Luxembourg office. We are also very proud that through the years we have been able to maintain a 50/50 gender balance among our staff.
“Our growth of 37% in AUM last year is a testament to the long-term relationships that we build with our clients, and to the extraordinary people that we managed to attract and retain..”
Attracting and retaining talent can be difficult – how do you manage it?
Our success so far is a testament to the long-term relationships that we build with our clients, and to the extraordinary people that we managed to attract and retain. From risk managers and analysts, to client relationship managers, we cultivate a culture of excellence, continuous growth, continuous learning, professional development and collaborative spirit. We understand, of course, that in the fast-paced world of asset management, staying ahead requires considerable ability to anticipate market changes, market shifts and the commitment to ethical practises. Our teams are empowered to make decisions, to take initiatives, and to push the boundaries on a daily basis while maintaining regulatory standards.
