Meet the manager: Martin Connaghan

If you weren’t a fund manager, what job would you do?

Given the choice and the ability - a musician but, I honestly have no idea; it is the only industry I have ever worked in since the age of 18. I would probably still work in financial services in some guise, perhaps within the middle office in an operations role.

What was the proudest moment of your career?

I’m most proud of having been with the one company up until now, through ups and downs and various name changes, and having started in the mailroom as an office junior with Murray Johnstone in 1998, working my way to the front office and portfolio management with abrdn.

What was the most difficult moment of your career and why?

There have been so many, tricky periods of performance are always challenging. Colleagues who become friends and mentors moving on to new things, is always sad. It’s almost impossible to have one these days, given risk management procedures and automated processes, however most portfolio managers or dealers of a certain age, will know the horrendous, stomach-churning event that is, a trading error.

What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?

Don’t wait until you’re 40 to start a family!

Seriously, to enjoy the good times and the successes a little more if or when they come along. Any career is always going to be full of ups and downs. When experiencing one of the “ups”, I’d tell myself to stop, lift my head and to take it in and enjoy it a little more. Very often workload or our personal lives can make that tricky to do and then you’re into the next challenging period before you know it. When it ever happens, going into the office with a spring in your step and being genuinely excited about what lies ahead and happy around the people you work with, is a very fortunate position to be in.

Away from the workplace, how do you spend your time? Is there a particular hobby you enjoy, or something that is a staple of your weekends?

Running around after our son Callan primarily. When we get a night off, then eating out in Edinburgh with friends, any live music and watching Scotland play rugby are our usual favourites.

Tell us about the last book you read or the last podcast you listened to?

Fifty Years - Christopher Sandford’s book about the Rolling Stones. They are my all-time favourite band by a country mile, so I am usually reading or listening to anything connected with them.

Where was the last place you went on holiday and why?

Staycations in the UK have been the main feature of holidays post Covid. We haven’t really felt the need to drag ourselves to warmer climes as yet. Before Covid and our little one’s arrival the last “proper” holiday was to the Amalfi Coast in Italy, because it is simply stunning and then onto Glastonbury Festival, because it is simply the best way to spend any weekend.

In your personal life, what would you like to achieve in the next 12 months?

Making sure our happy and healthy three-year-old turns into a happy and healthy four year old is the only thing that matters.