The founder and chief executive of Platinum Asset Management, Kerr Nielson, is the recipient of the 2014 Money Management Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Count Financial.
Nielson, who boasts more than 40 years in the funds management industry, founded Platinum in 1994 after leaving Bankers Trust (now BT), and since then has carved out a reputation as one of Australia’s most successful fund managers.
In deciding to recognise Neilson with the 2014 award, the review panel made particular note of the number of years in which Platinum had emerged as both a finalist and a winner in the Money Management Fund Manager of the Year Awards.
They noted that Neilson had been integral to Platinum’s performances in terms of managing the company’s global mandates and as chief investment officer – a position he held until May last year.
The panel also noted the philanthropic work undertaken by Neilson via the Neilson Foundation which he controls with his wife, Judith.
It was last year announced that the Foundation, in league with the Financial Planning Association (FPA), would be funding financial planning-related scholarships worth $15,000 a year.
Neilson is the first fund manager to be honoured with the Money Management Lifetime Achievement Award.
He joins other recipients of the award, the late Gwen Fletcher, Count Financial founder Barry Lambert and the founder of research house, van Eyk, Stephen van Eyk.
