Benjamin (Ben) Gunnee
London,Select
Summary
I am a leader with over 20 years of experience in institutional sales and business development, with a particular focus and expertise in alternative and private markets investments. I have developed and won business throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East, across institutional, corporates, endowments and foundations as well as family offices.
My key skills include:
- Strategic thinker 7 business builder - I have planned and overseen several successful business expansion activities leading to increased sales and coverage at Gresham House, Cambridge Associates and Mercer
-New products - developing and implementing new products through the entire lifecycle from design to sales, and to new business wins.
- Leadership and EQ skills - having led teams from 2-100 during my career I have developed flexible leadership skills to react to individuals and situations to try and maxmise sales activity and outcomes.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
2018
2018
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Global Head of Institutional Business Development
Gresham House
London
05.2024 - Current
- Responsible for Institutional Business Development within Gresham House.
- Focus on building Gresham House's presence outside of UK, including Japan, Australia, DACH and Nordics.
- Working closely with investor teams in product development with a focus on the storyboard and investment structure to enhance their appeal to new markets.
- Within first 12 months, have built structure in target markets and won business across Japan and Australia with additional mandates in DACH due to be secured in near term.
- Member of Gresham House Asset Management Board.
Managing Director, Head of Business Development UK & EMEA
Cambridge Associates
London
05.2020 - 05.2024
- Managed business development, marketing, and PR activities for Pensions, Insurance, and Endowment & Foundations.
- Directed entire commercial process from initial lead generation to ultimate pitch delivery.
- Designed and implemented go to market strategy for Cambridge Associates in Germany and for Pensions business across UK & Europe. primary focus on Private Markets.
- Member of UK Executive Committee which oversees the UK business
- Part of product development team in Cambridge helping influence and commercialise Cambridge’s capabilities
Partner, Head of Fiduciary Management (UK)
Mercer Investments
London
01.2015 - 12.2019
- Oversaw growth, development, and delivery of Mercer’s Fiduciary Management services within UK.
- Led UK business development, responsible for all significant and key client investor pitches.
- Under my tenure grew UK AUM from £15bn in 2015 to over £50bn.
- Strategic leadership and management oversight of the entire UK fiduciary business and member of European leadership team.
- Mercer’s ‘face’ for CMA review into Fiduciary Management
- Part of team that designed and sold Mercer Private Markets product throughout Europe. Started with Fund III at £1bn raised by Fund V grown to nearly £3bn raised.
Investment Market Business Leader – Middle East
Mercer Investments
Dubai
01.2014 - 03.2015
- Responsible for growing and delivering all Mercer’s Investment solutions into the Middle East market. In addition, responsible for growing and developing Mercer Sentinel business across Asia with a team based in Singapore.
- Developing and implementing sales strategy for Middle East which led to sales targets being hit 5 months ahead of schedule.
- Leading all business development activities which resulted in business doubling revenues within 12 months.
- Providing organisational structuring advice to some of the largest asset pools globally.
European Director of Mercer Sentinel
Mercer Sentinel
London
02.2002 - 01.2014
- European Head of Mercer Sentinel Group, team responsible for transition management, operational risk assessments and custody
- Built and commercialised Mercer’s operational due diligence business.
- Development of transition service in UK and Globally. This includes developing procedures, running and managing Mercer’s UK transition team and making presentations to consultants and clients across Mercer.
Consultant
Canada Life
Potters Bar
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Providing advice to a large team of around 50 staff on how to model pension schemes for pension review compensation claims
- Development and introduction of new life insurance product to cover members of pension review compensation claims
Education
Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries - Actuarial Science
Institute of Actuaries
LondonM.Sc. - Finance, Thesis on Chaos Theory
DeMontfort University
B.Sc (Econ) - Accounting and Financial Management
Buckingham University
Buckingham, Buckinghamshire 01.1994 - 12.1995
Skills
- Created Gresham House's international footprint, with new markets including Japan, Australia and DACH Accelerated growth through a hub and spoke approach to drive maximum market coverage and impact
- Built Cambridge Associates go to market strategy for pensions market in Europe and also the Middle East, establishing new business in DACH, Italy and Middle East
- At Cambridge Associates increased commercial viability of private market offering, including product development, commercial materials and key targets of offerings particularly in Private Markets
- Driving force behind increasing Mercer’s UK Fiduciary Management assets under management by over 300% and over $100m in revenue
- Turned around an investment business in Middle East and within 12 months secured the following years budget
- Established an operational and transaction business at Mercer from scratch to revenues in excess of $10m per annum
Hobbies and Interests
Family, Art, Fashion, Travel
Timeline
Global Head of Institutional Business Development
Gresham House
05.2024 - Current
Managing Director, Head of Business Development UK & EMEA
Cambridge Associates
05.2020 - 05.2024
Partner, Head of Fiduciary Management (UK)
Mercer Investments
01.2015 - 12.2019
Investment Market Business Leader – Middle East
Mercer Investments
01.2014 - 03.2015
European Director of Mercer Sentinel
Mercer Sentinel
02.2002 - 01.2014
Consultant
Canada Life
01.1999 - 01.2002
B.Sc (Econ) - Accounting and Financial Management
Buckingham University
01.1994 - 12.1995
Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries - Actuarial Science
Institute of Actuaries
M.Sc. - Finance, Thesis on Chaos Theory
DeMontfort University