The big boutique

Martin Currie's prompt action during recent crisis enabled the group's client proposition to remain intact and positive momentum to be maintained

The term ‘unprecedented’ was banned from the Martin Currie offices last year. Although it was the only way of summing up the extent of the market freefall, the investment house decided it was over-used. Instead of wallowing in the desperate situation all fund management houses found themselves in, they decided prompt action was necessary. Head of UK intermediary sales Alan Burnett describes how chief executive Willie Watt called one of his regular ‘town meetings’ for staff. Martin Currie is entirely owned by its staff, including fund managers, and they would all have a say in how the ...