Join Brand Finance for the launch of the Brand Finance Asset Management & Sovereign Wealth Fund 2026 report, in partnership with Financial Services Forum, unveiling the world's most valuable and strongest brands in the sector, alongside fresh insights into what drives brand strength, trust and financial value.
Bringing together senior leaders from across asset management, marketing and financial services, the event will tackle two critical questions: What does it take to build a brand that clients genuinely trust? And how can you prove its value to the business?
Across two thought-provoking panel discussions, industry experts will explore what sets leading asset management brands apart, how trust is built and maintained in an evolving media landscape, and how to turn brand strength into measurable business impact. From winning client confidence to demonstrating ROI and securing boardroom buy-in, the discussions will examine why brand matters more than ever.
Join us for food and drinks afterwards to continue the conversation.
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Arrival & Registration |
| 17:00 - 17:10 |
Welcome Introduction
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| 17:10 – 17:35 |
Presentation of the Brand Finance Asset Management & Sovereign Wealth Fund 2026 Report Unveiling the latest findings from Brand Finance’s Asset Management & Sovereign Wealth Fund 50 2026 report, exploring the world’s most valuable and strongest brands and the forces reshaping the global investment landscape.
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| 17:35 – 18:15 | Panel Discussion | How strong brands are built in asset management, and the role of trust in creating lasting value This panel will explore what defines a strong asset management brand in 2026, from building credibility and lasting trust to meeting the evolving expectations of younger investors. Panellists will discuss how asset managers can turn trust into a tangible competitive advantage, maintain a consistent and authentic brand across increasingly digital channels, and measure the commercial value of getting it right.
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| 18:15 - 18:20 |
Closing Remarks
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| 18:20 - 19:30 | Networking Reception |
Founded in 2000, The Financial Services Forum is an independent member-based community for over 300 senior executives with an interest in financial services marketing. The FS Forum exists to help members improve their marketing effectiveness on the basis that good marketing is good for the consumer. They achieve this through organising workshops, seminars, conferences and three-day European Summits; producing and promoting the only awards specifically for marketing effectiveness in financial services, presented at an Annual Members’ Dinner; undertake research and publish original material that helps further understanding of marketing effectiveness.
Emily Askham is an accomplished marketing and strategy professional with over 15 years of experience across key segments of the financial services industry, including Asset Management, Pensions, and Insurance. With a diverse skill set encompassing corporate strategy, product design and innovation, brand strategy, marketing technology and customer experience, Emily is known for delivering impactful, data-driven solutions that resonate with customers and drive business growth.
Throughout her career, Emily has built a reputation for defining and driving enterprise brand strategy, vision and purpose, creating compelling propositions that elevate market presence, sharpen differentiation and strengthen client engagement. She has led brand transformation initiatives that connect commercial ambition with a clear strategic narrative, ensuring that brand positioning, client experience and marketing activation are aligned to business priorities and long-term growth.
Emily is particularly passionate about customer experience, having led numerous initiatives aimed at driving client satisfaction and increasing loyalty across all areas of the business. She has successfully implemented Net Promoter Score (NPS) frameworks, using feedback to identify key opportunities for improvement and measure the effectiveness of customer-centric strategies. Emily has played a leading role in change management and transition plans, overseeing cross-functional teams to deliver tangible improvements in service quality and client satisfaction. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement, she has consistently elevated customer experience, resulting in higher retention rates, improved satisfaction scores, and stronger brand loyalty.
Emily also brings a clear vision for marketing technology, with a specific focus on artificial intelligence as a catalyst for business transformation. She is driving a Marketing Technology roadmap designed to establish a connected, data-driven and AI-enabled marketing ecosystem. By integrating client data, modernising client engagement platforms, automating marketing operations and embedding AI across key workflows, the roadmap will enhance distribution effectiveness, improve productivity, strengthen client retention and position NIM International as a leading client-centric and digitally enabled asset manager. For Emily, data becomes the strategic asset, AI the accelerant, client experience the differentiator and connected platforms the operating backbone for the next generation of marketing.
Emily's experience also includes working with renowned brands and sponsorships, such as the Paris Olympics 2024, Chelsea Flower Show, European Ski Resort and School Sponsorships, and Liverpool FC, where she played a pivotal role in enhancing brand visibility and aligning these partnerships with strategic business goals.
Her leadership roles have seen her drive large-scale marketing initiatives for high-profile financial institutions, including MLC, London Pension Fund Authority, M&G Investments, AXA Investment Managers, and currently as the International Chief Marketing Officer at Natixis Investment Managers. Emily has a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, mentoring emerging talent, and shaping the future of financial services marketing by creating customer-first strategies that are innovative, measurable and results-driven.
Annie is a qualified management accountant and has worked on Brand and Business valuation projects serving global clients, including Barclays and Shell. She is experienced across of variety of services including brand licensing, research analytics, rebrand uplift and balance sheet valuation. Annie heads up various studies at Brand Finance, including the annual Global Intangible Finance Tracker (GIFT™) and the Brand Guardianship Index. In addition, Annie has conducted research and analysis for the Brand Finance brand rankings, specialising in Banking, Retail and Oil & Gas sectors. Annie has served clients worldwide, with a particular focus on the USA and the Middle East. Annie joined Brand Finance as an Analyst in August 2017 after graduating from The University of Edinburgh with a Masters degree in Philosophy and Economics. She has since completed her CIMA professional qualification.