About

Team

Investment team

Joe Bauernfreund, CEO & CIO, BSc, MSc

Joe Bauernfreund is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Asset Value Investors. He is the sole manager of AVI Global Trust and AVI Japan Opportunity Trust and responsible for all investment decisions across AVI’s strategies.

Before joining AVI in 2002, Joe worked six years for a real estate investment organisation in London. He has a Masters in Finance from the London Business School.

Tom Treanor, Head of Research, BA (Economics), CFA

Tom joined AVI in February 2011 and became a director in 2017. He works closely with the analyst team providing support and guidance on prospective and current investments across the portfolio, in addition to taking responsibility for all investments in closed-end funds.

Tom spent nine years working for Fundamental Data/Morningstar in various roles involving closed-end fund analysis. He has a degree in Economics from the University of Leicester.

Scott Beveridge, BSc (Actuarial Science), CFA

Scott joined AVI in October 2005. He researches real estate-backed opportunities and Asian holding companies.

Before joining AVI, Scott spent two years as an investment analyst with Fundamental Data undertaking quantitative analysis. He has a degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Kent, Canterbury.

Daniel Lee, BSc (Physics), CFA, CAIA

Daniel joined AVI in February 2015. He focuses on researching Japanese companies.

Before joining AVI, Daniel completed internships at Pamplona Capital Management and Mercer. He has passed all three levels of the CFA exam. He graduated with a First Class Honours in Physics from the University of Bristol.

Wilfrid Craigie, BSc (Social Policy)

Wilfrid joined AVI in January 2018. He researches global holding companies and asset-backed special situations.

Before joining AVI, Wilfrid completed internships at Sanderson Asset Management, Guinness Asset Management and Oldfield Partners. Wilfrid has a BSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics.

Jason Bellamy, Engagement Consultant, BSc (Economics)

Jason joined AVI in March 2020. He works closely with the analyst team and leads on the engagement efforts in Japan. He brings more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, working for and engaging with global companies, government bodies, regulators and international investors including Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, First Trust Advisors and Aberdeen Standard Investments.

Jason has a BSc in economics from the London School of Economics & Political Science (University of London).

Ross McGarry, BSc (Economics)

Ross joined AVI in June 2020. He researches global holding companies and provides support to the investment team.

Before joining AVI, Ross completed a one year programme at Nomura on a UK M&A Investment Banking Industrial Placement. Ross has a BSc in Economics from the University of Bath.

Kaz Sakai, BS (Geochemistry), MBA

Kaz Sakai has been working with AVI since May 2020 and joined AVI’s investment team full-time in June 2021. Kaz previously worked at as an Engagement Manger at McKinsey & Company and an RTS Practice Associate in Melbourne. Kaz also gained valuable experience at a private equity firm in Tokyo from 2016-2018. He holds a B.S. in Geochemistry from the University of Tokyo and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

William Hawkes, BSc (Economics & Finance), MSc

William joined AVI in October 2021.  He researches global holding companies and provides support to the investment team.

Before joining AVI, William completed internships at Passion Capital and Aravis Capital.  William has a BSc in Economics & Finance from Newcastle University and an MSc with Distinction in Investment Management from Bayes (formerly Cass) Business School.

Shimpei Ochi, BA (Law), LLM

Shimpei joined AVI in October 2022. He previously worked as a lawyer at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto and as a government official at Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.

Shimpei holds a B.A. in Law from the University of Tokyo and an LL.M. from Columbia Law School.

Esme Morter, BA (International Relations & French)

Esme joined AVI in February 2021.  She focuses on ESG research and supports its integration throughout the investment process.

Before joining AVI, Esme graduated with a First Class Honours degree in International Relations and French from the University of Sussex, putting these skills to practical use helping on the ground in Greece with the migrant crisis.

Finance

John Kidd, CFO, CCO, BSc, FCCA, MSCI

John joined AVI in July 2011 as Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for AVI’s finances and works closely with AVI’s outsourced compliance company. He engages with the Board on all financial and compliance matters.

Prior to joining AVI, John was a partner at Meteora Partners LLP, a firm providing full managerial and administration support to independent investment firms operating predominantly in the investment management and hedge fund industries. John has over 15 years experience working in financial services.

John has a degree in Accounting & Finance from the University of Hull and qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 1999.

Rosarie Roberts

Rosarie joined AVI in August 2011 as an Accounts Assistant. She is responsible for assisting John with AVI’s finances and daily bookkeeping.

Business Development

Kimmberly Lau, BA (Finance)

Kimmberly has 25 years’ experience in the finance industry.  She joined AVI in October 2003 as Business Development Director and works closely with the investment team and operations. She engages with the Boards of AVI’s funds to provide regular Board reporting and is responsible for oversight of AVI’s ESG and sustainability development.

Kimmberly has seven years’ experience in sales, research, operations, and compliance with Commerzbank and Wood & Company. Prior to that, she was a management consultant in Central Europe.  Kimmberly has a degree in Finance and Economics from Oregon State University.

Oliver Wilshaw, BA (Digital Film & Marketing Communications)

Oliver joined AVI in March 2022 as Digital Marketing Manager to oversee and plan all of AVI’s online marketing and communication strategies.

He previously worked in a financial marketing agency for three years as a Marketing Consultant and prior to that a Marketing Executive to a wealth management company based in London.

Oliver graduated from UCA University with a BA (Hons) degree in Digital Film & Marketing Communications.

Operations

Jake Crowhurst, MA (Mechanical Engineering)

Jake joined AVI in February 2012 as Head of Operations to build out and run the Operations team within the firm.

Prior to joining AVI, Jake spent 5 years running operations teams at two hedge funds where he was responsible for all post trade activity. Jake has over 14 years’ experience in the financial services industry.

Jake has a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Nottingham University.

Office Management

Nicola Cowman, BA (Business Studies)

Nicola joined AVI in April 2004 as Office Manager and is responsible for the operations of the office. She also provides support to the fund administration side of the business.

Nicola graduated from Derby University with a degree in Business Studies in 1995.

Kirsten Hughes, BBus (International Business)

Kirsten joined AVI in February 2010 as an administration assistant to provide general secretarial support and assist the co-ordination of office management activities.

Kirsten graduated from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia with a degree in International Business in 1993.

Yuki Nicholas

Yuki joined AVI in February 2020 as a Japan Team assistant to provide translating support, desk research and other secretarial support to the members of Japan Team.

Yuki previously worked for BZW Tokyo as an assistant to the investment strategist and the economist.