The role of the Chief Operating Officer in asset management continues to expand, as operational challenges grow in both scope and complexity. Once centred primarily on trade processing and operational control, the function now sits at the intersection of technology strategy, regulatory interpretation, data governance, vendor management, and increasingly, judgment around what should be automated, outsourced, or retained in house. As a result, COOs now work more closely than ever with their technology and service providers, relying on them not just for infrastructure and execution, but as partners in navigating change.
Against this backdrop, HedgeNordic, together with IG Prime and Clearwater Analytics (CWAN), convened the Nordic COO Roundtable in Stockholm to explore the operational challenges facing Nordic asset managers today.
Nordic COO Roundtable Write Up
The roundtable brought together senior operational leaders from across the hedge fund and alternative investment landscape, alongside key technology and service providers that increasingly shape how investment operations function in practice. Participants included Catharina Östring of Coeli, Katarina Carlbring of Nordkinn Asset Management, Petter Mattsson of Alcur Fonder, David Bergquist of Volt Capital Management, Daniel Mackey of Protean Funds Scandinavia, Martin Redgård of Finserve, Grant Loon of VHC Partners, as well as Ahmed Patel of IG Prime and Stephen Roberts of Clearwater Analytics. The discussion was moderated by Andi Woolass of CWAN.
The conversation moved deliberately away from theory and into day to day operational reality. Topics ranged from trade lifecycle efficiency and straight through processing to the growing burden of regulation, including DORA, MiFID and liquidity management tools. Participants compared approaches to data ownership, data quality, and the practical limits of relying on single providers versus broader vendor ecosystems. Separately managed accounts featured prominently, both as a growth tool and as a source of operational complexity. The group also explored the cautious adoption of artificial intelligence, distinguishing between genuine use cases and technology that remains premature for mission critical workflows.
What emerges from the discussion is not a prescribed model, but a candid snapshot of how experienced COOs, working closely with their technology and service partners, are thinking, prioritising, and adapting as operational challenges continue to evolve.
The full roundtable write up captures this exchange in detail, offering insight into how Nordic operational leaders are navigating complexity while maintaining control, resilience, and flexibility.
Photography by: Binniam Eskender
