Rachel Shirley

Alexander Funds wishes to announce that Chief Executive Officer, Rachel Shirley has tendered her resignation. However, she will remain with the firm to facilitate an orderly transition.

As co-founder of the business and inaugural CEO, Ms Shirley has achieved the goals she set out to accomplish and believes the firm is well placed to continue its growth and success under new leadership.

“Upon establishment of the firm, my goal was to build a strong, respected, standalone organisation with the capability, culture and foundations to succeed well beyond its early years,” Ms Shirley said.

“Having delivered on the strategic priorities, I believe now is the right time to hand responsibility for the next phase to a new guardian of the business. This decision comes with deep gratitude to the team, both past and present, who have helped build this organisation. A special thank-you also to our investors and partners who have supported our vision.”

Trevor Chudleigh, Chair of the Board said, “Rachel has been fundamental to the growth and development of the business over the past 17 years, since its establishment in 2009 and we wish her well in her next chapter.”

The firm, its employees and clients will continue to benefit from her significant contribution, and we are grateful Rachel is remaining in her role to support the appointment of her successor and ensure a smooth transition.

Since its establishment in 2009, Alexander Funds has grown to approximately $1.6 billion in funds under management and continues to be a trusted, reliable and consistent performer in the fixed income credit markets.

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Giles Gunesekera

Alexander Funds, a Melbourne based boutique credit Investment Manager has great pleasure in announcing the appointment of Giles Gunesekera OAM as Independent Chair of the ESG Committee.

Giles will add independent, external expertise to Alexander Funds’ Committee and is tasked with ensuring Alexander Funds integrates industry best practices, regulatory developments, and evolving ESG standards in a pragmatic and considered manner across the organisation.

With expertise in ESG and impact assessment, Giles will contribute valuable insights into integrating sustainability considerations into the decision-making process at Alexander Funds. This approach aligns with the growing emphasis on responsible and ethical business practices. “In shaping the Committee’s composition, the executive has been focused on finding an independent Chairperson with specialised knowledge relevant to our business. We strive to be forward-thinking within the investment industry, and this ambition extends to ESG considerations” says CEO Rachel Shirley.

Giles is a leading executive across the fields of climate, health, housing, and sustainability, a 30-year asset management veteran and has received an Order of Australia for his outstanding work as a social welfare activist. Giles is the founder and CEO of Global Impact Initiative, an organisation focused on Impact Investing.

Giles previous roles include managing director and head of third-party sales at Principal Global Investors and State Manager for New South Wales and the ACT at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.

Giles appointment follows Trevor Chudleigh’s appointment as Independent Chairman for the business late last year and strengthens the growth and development of the organisation.

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Rachel Shirley

The Alexander Funds Credit Opportunities Fund (the Fund) was awarded 2023 Best Alternative Fixed Income & Credit Specialist Award at last week’s Australian Alternative Investment Awards.

This is the 7th time in 11 years the Fund has won this award. The Fund achieved an annual return net of fees of 6.88% for the year ended 30 June 2023 and no negative monthly returns over the past 12 months.

“We are proud to be recognised for our hard work and dedication to our investors” said Alexander Funds CEO Rachel Shirley, who was in attendance to accept the award. “To have our commitment to delivering high-quality investment options in fixed income and credit acknowledged by the industry is an honour.”

Established in 2005, The Australian Alternative Investment Awards recognise and honour the industry’s top performers. Finalists are decided based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors agreed upon by a panel of judges in ten categories.

The Awards support the Alternative Future Foundation, which aims to build positive futures for disadvantaged Australians and their families. They work with charities to make a meaningful and measurable difference in the lives of their beneficiaries. This year’s event raised money for four charities; Redkite, Tranby, Women’s Community Shelters and Nordoff Robins.

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Rachel Shirley

The Alexander Credit Opportunities Fund (the Fund) won Best Fixed Income and Credit Fund at last night’s Australian Alternative Investment Awards in Sydney.

This is the second year in a row Alexander has won the award and the sixth time in nine years.

The Fund was recognised for its ability to produce consistent positive returns during a volatile year for investors. Outperforming its peers, the Fund achieved an annual return net of fees of 4.31% for the year ended 30 June 2022 and no negative monthly returns over the past 12 months.

The Australian Alternative Investment Awards honour fund managers that can deliver consistent, competitive risk-adjusted returns regardless of market movements.

“It’s always a privilege to be acknowledged for the work we do for our investors” said Alexander Funds’ CEO Rachel Shirley. “To have won this award so consistently over the past decade highlights the strength of our team and philosophy. Credit investing has been a challenging environment over the past few years but we’re proud to be among the top performers”.

The Alexander Credit Opportunities Fund is a retail investment fund which aims to seek out the best investment opportunities across the full range of fixed income assets. It has a current running yield before fees of 8.15% and a low credit duration of 1.08 years.

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