Anna von Hahn from Mobius Capital Partners is our Sales Manager of the Month
19 FEB, 2025
By Jose Luis Palmer from RankiaPro Europe
Anna von Hahn joined Mobius Capital Partners upon inception in 2018 and is responsible for Investor Relations & Operations. She began her career in 2001 as a Business Consultant at The Boston Consulting Group before transitioning to Bloomsbury Publishing, where she held roles in Business Development, PR, and Finance. Anna graduated with distinction from the London School of Economics.
What made you decide to go into the financial sector? Did you have any other vocations? How were your first steps in the sector?
I didn’t have a straightforward career path in finance. I actually started in business consulting before transitioning into the book publishing industry, where I held various roles across finance, publicity, and business operations for nearly 15 years. It was during that time that I reconnected with Carlos, our founding partner and portfolio manager, while working on a book with him and Mark Mobius about sustainable investing. They were just in the early stages of launching MCP, and that encounter ultimately led me into the financial sector—and the rest is history.
What does a typical workday look like for you? What do you enjoy the most about your job?
No two days are the same. We are a small, close-knit team where everyone takes on multiple aspects of the business, and that’s what I love—it’s never boring, neither in what we do nor in the markets. I also really enjoy working with our team; they’re fantastic. Beyond that, I love meeting our investors, both current and new, from all over the world. This industry is filled with fascinating people, and I find it incredibly interesting to hear their perspectives and insights. Lastly, I truly appreciate working with Carlos. His experience is remarkable, and I learn something new from him every day.
In your opinion, what are the key drivers for successful fund distribution?
Successful fund distribution depends on performance, track record, differentiation, and strong relationships, especially for a boutique firm like ours. While larger asset managers benefit from perceived security, we focus on building trust through transparency and results, which has driven inflows.
How do you approach building and maintaining relationships with clients?
Trust and transparency are fundamental. Our six-year track record and strong performance have driven investor confidence, with AUM in our SICAV more than doubling over the past year. Long-term partnerships are built through consistent engagement—regular meetings, clear communication, and delivering results. We also provide direct access to our entire team and offer customised reporting to meet investors' specific needs, ensuring they feel informed and supported at all times.
Could you highlight any topics investors should focus on for the long term?
I would focus on diversification, structural growth trends, and high-quality businesses with long-term resilience. Emerging markets remain a critical component of a well-balanced portfolio, offering attractive valuations, strong growth potential, and access to innovative companies driving global supply chains. This is especially important given the rising concentration risk in developed markets—by the end of 2024, just seven companies accounted for 28% of the S&P 500’s market cap and over 50% of its returns. Investors should also pay attention to trends like technological innovation, demographic shifts, and sustainability, which are shaping the global economy and presenting opportunities beyond short-term market cycles.
Beyond geographic diversification, I would look at megatrends shaping the global economy, including technological innovation, demographic shifts, and the transition to more sustainable business models. Active investing in these areas provides opportunities to identify under researched, high-quality companies poised for long-term success, offering a meaningful edge over passive strategies that simply follow existing market weights.
How do you stay informed about market trends and changes in the asset management industry?
I stay informed through a combination of financial media, industry events, and direct conversations. With information so readily available, I regularly follow top financial newspapers and publications, platforms like Rankia, and insightful podcasts that provide diverse perspectives. Beyond media, engaging with industry professionals at events, meetings, and conferences is invaluable—these discussions offer real-time insights and a deeper understanding of market trends and shifts in asset management.
What is your advice to investors, how should they position their portfolios with the current environment?
The market remains highly volatile, with sharp sentiment swings driven by economic uncertainty, interest rate shifts, geopolitical risks, and sector-specific shocks—most recently, concerns over China’s AI developments like DeepSeek and the uncertainty around Trump’s tariff plans. Conviction is key—don’t sell too quickly out of fear, and don’t chase trends too late. I believe, timing short-term moves is rarely effective—it’s better to be in the market than out. Instead, portfolios should be well-diversified across geographies, asset classes, and investment styles to navigate uncertainty and capture opportunities beyond over-concentrated areas like U.S. tech. Emerging markets offer strong growth potential, attractive valuations, and innovative businesses, making them an essential diversification tool, particularly as trade tensions and shifting global policies reshape supply chains. In complex areas like AI, trade policy impacts, or specialized emerging markets, working with experienced specialists can help investors navigate risks and uncover high-quality opportunities.
What is the most exciting thing you have seen in the markets since you started working in the financial sector? And the biggest challenge you had to face?
The emergence of generative AI, particularly large language models, has been absolutely fascinating. Despite concerns around its risks, AI is a transformative force that is here to stay, fundamentally reshaping the way we work and live. Beyond the big tech names, we have products and services for AI development—from specialized semiconductor suppliers to cutting-edge automation firms. These businesses are not just riding the AI wave but are essential enablers of its growth, offering unique investment opportunities.
On the challenge side, building a company from the ground up is both thrilling and demanding. Breaking through the $100 million AUM mark for our SICAV was far from easy, despite Carlos' 20-year track record and strong fund performance. Conversations often felt circular—investors wanted a three- to five-year track record and a minimum of $100 million before allocating, yet reaching that threshold required early adopters willing to invest. However, we persevered, and today we manage over $400 million across two funds. The journey has been incredibly rewarding.
What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities in the asset management industry today, and how would you address them as a Sales Manager?
The biggest challenges in asset management today are ETF-driven herd behaviour, market concentration, consolidation, and increasing regulation. These trends make differentiation essential. As a boutique, we focus on active investing in emerging markets, identifying under researched, high-quality companies that offer true diversification—especially as passive flows concentrate risk in a few mega-cap stocks. As a Sales Manager, I focus on engaging with investors on the benefits of active, high-conviction strategies, demonstrating how our differentiated approach uncovers opportunities that passive investing overlooks, and building strong relationships in an increasingly commoditized industry.
When you have free time, what do you like to do?
I’m a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art, and train regularly, occasionally competing as well. For me, it’s what yoga or meditation is for others—a way to focus, reset, and challenge myself. I absolutely love the sport; it’s like playing chess on the mat, requiring both strategy and discipline. Outside of training, I cherish time with my family—my children, my husband, and of course, our crazy dog, who keeps things lively!
