Can you tell us about your role, the products you are involved with, and how you found out about Siepe?
As a Managing Director at Siepe EMEA, I am responsible for establishing our international operations and expansion into the European market. This includes the integration of new teams in Malaysia, which will enable Siepe to have a ‘follow the sun’ global operating model. This is instrumental for enabling us to maintain seamless workflows, while ensuring that our data and cash management are up-to-date at the close of each trading day in the US.
I work with two main business lines at Siepe: the Middle Office and Collateral Administration Services. Our Middle Office provides administrative and operational services for asset managers, and Collateral Administration provides similar services but aimed at investors in deals managed by the asset managers. A key part of my role is to ensure that our product offerings align with a client’s objectives, facilitating smooth operations and contributing to their long term growth.
I was acquainted with a few of their board members from my prior roles before joining their team, and I was impressed with Siepe’s culture, focus on tech and commitment to progress, especially on the data.
What are some of the biggest challenges that the industry faces? And how has the loan servicing industry evolved?
Managing an increasingly overwhelming amount of data is one of the industry’s biggest challenges, which complicates compliance and reporting processes. The persistence of outdated technologies, like the use of fax machines in the syndicated loan markets, underscores the need for more sophisticated solutions. At Siepe, we address these challenges by enhancing our data management and technological capabilities, striving to improve operational efficiency and accuracy.
Is there an opportunity that you feel the business leaders in the CLO and credit space are missing out on?
When it comes to middle office services and collateral administration, progress has been stagnant, with limited advancements in industry standards and technological innovation. There is a significant opportunity for business leaders to adopt new technologies that streamline processes and enhance service offerings, which will improve the industry’s overall efficiency.
Do you have key goals for Siepe in 2025, and what initiatives are you working on that will help firms enhance their operational efficiency?
My main goal is to build out the necessary global infrastructure to support our US business and for clients looking to expand into the European market. This involves implementing a process and systems that are consistent, but also take into consideration the additional regulatory needs in Europe. We aim to provide a global model that allows for a seamless transition for our clients from the US to Europe, ensuring they experience no disruption in service and their data is updated and processed almost on a real time basis. As an example, our US deals have their cash applied and reconciled post the market close on the same day by utilising the newly established team in Malaysia.
Additionally, we are focused on advancing our use of generative AI to significantly reduce manual workloads and enhance the overall processing speed for data. This advancement is crucial for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving private credit markets where having timely data is necessary to accurately assess and/or mitigate risk, and make better informed investment decisions
Advice for people looking to progress their career in this industry
My advice to those looking to progress their career in this industry is to remain detail-oriented and curious. For example, say there are 25 steps to a process, you have to ask yourself: Are all these steps necessary? Can I achieve the same result in 10 steps? Always question how processes can be improved and look for ways to enhance efficiency. Embrace a “learner’s mindset”; even seemingly mundane tasks can provide deep insights into the intricacies of our industry. It’s crucial to understand the basics thoroughly before moving on to more advanced technologies and solutions. By mastering fundamental skills and maintaining a continuous desire to learn and improve, you’ll be well-equipped to succeed and make significant contributions in this rapidly evolving field.
Can you share a fun fact?
During my early teens, after experiencing multiple menial low paid part time jobs, I thought there’s got to be a better way. So I used my first computer to apply a data driven approach to horse racing ‘investing’! Surprisingly, to beat the odds at horse racing, it’s not about trying to predict the winner but finding the mispriced horse. I would spend hours every Saturday morning inputting data from the racing newspapers into a program called “Pro Punter”, which had a simple but effective algorithm to identify the ‘value bet’. Although my efforts paid off financially, my parents decided that I should be utilizing my time towards studies rather than gambling on the horses so it was brought to an abrupt end!
