#25 Leaders in Investment podcast: Simon Pilcher, Chief Executive Officer, USS Investment Management

In conversation with Liam Kennedy, Editorial Director, IPE. In this episode of IPE’s Leaders in Investment, Simon Pilcher, CEO of USS Investment Management, asset manager for the UK’s £77bn Universities Superannuation Scheme discusses their role as a universal owner, the advantages of running an open defined benefit scheme and successfully moving the scheme from a deficit position to a £10bn+ surplus. The discussion covers the fund’s high allocation to private markets and significant in-house investment capability which supports that; their decision to right-size investment risk by increasing exposure to rates and to inflation and their goal for its portfolio to be net carbon zero by 2050 or earlier. This episode of Leaders in Investment is sponsored by PGIM. “We need to get governments and regulators to make it not only financially viable for people to change, but also easy for people to change. Let's make it easy for people to decarbonise.” In this podcast series from IPE and IPE Real Assets, members of our editorial team speak to leading figures in the institutional investor community to curate a library of in-depth, focused content.  Conversations with chief investment officers and other asset-owner leaders will range across beliefs, objectives, investment philosophy, strategy and outlook. Engaging with asset owners both in Europe and beyond, this series will provide unique access to the thinking that guides their decisions. If you like what you hear, do tell friends and colleagues, and please let us know us what you think by contacting us on [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.