Brendan Wood International Announces TopGun Investment Minds in the World of Oil and Gas

Performance and Career Advisory firm Brendan Wood International has just concluded its worldwide search for the top investment minds in the global oil and gas business. With oil and gas prices on the rise, the booming Canadian oil sands, and global demand greater than ever, it is no surprise that oil and gas investments represent such a large portion of the investment capital in the market today. In this environment, it was harder than ever to select the best investment minds in the business, even though Brendan Wood’s selection panel consists of the most selective and highly acclaimed analysts in the field.

More than 600 sell side analysts globally participated in the hunt for excellence. This exclusive panel includes almost all the TopGun oil and gas specialists from the sell side of the Street. The US oil and gas industry is replete with talent. Twenty-two Investment Minds received accolades from a Selection Panel of sell side analysts who cited work ethic, exceptional investment discipline, knowledge of the business, and a thorough understanding of global dynamics relative to this controversial and fast-changing sector.

BlackRock matched Franklin Resources for most TopGuns in the space. BlackRock’s Robert Shearer, Denis Walsh and Daniel Rice were designated TopGuns while Franklin Resources has John Kohli, Matthew Adams, and Frederick Fromm. Capital Group and Fidelity Investments followed with two TopGuns apiece.

The TopGun US Oil & Gas Investment Minds are:

Mike Grealish; Adage Capital Management

David Wheeler; AllianceBernstein

Christian Zann; Balyasny Asset Management

Daniel (Dan) Rice; BlackRock Inc

Robert Shearer; BlackRock Inc

Denis Walsh; BlackRock Inc

Jacinto Hernandez; Capital Group Companies

Frank Hu; Capital Group Companies

James Wicklund; Carlson Capital LP

Matthew Crossland; Citadel Group

David Donnelly; Diamondback Advisors

John Dowd; Fidelity Investments

Andrew Parr; Fidelity Investments

Matthew Adams; Franklin Resources Inc.

Frederick Fromm; Franklin Resources Inc.

John Kohli; Franklin Resources Inc.

Maura Shaughnessy; MFS Investment Management

Todd Heltman; Neuberger Berman

Tim Parker; T. Rowe Price

Charles Robertson; Talek Investments

Paul Chambers; TPH Asset Management

Shawn Reynolds; Van Eck Global

It is not surprising given the structure of the Canadian market landscape and the increasing productivity of the Alberta sands, that many generalist portfolio managers are noted by the sell side for their oil and gas expertise. The sell side elected nine Investment Minds who are considered oil and gas aficionados, in that their portfolios are concentrated on the sector.

The TopGun Canadian Oil & Gas Investment Minds are:

Robert Lyon; AGF Funds Inc.

Jéan-Fréderic Bérard; Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

Scott Vali; CI Investments

John Stephenson; First Asset Management, Inc.

Norm Lamarche; Front Street Capital

Andrew Taylor; Goodman & Company Investment Counsel

John Priestman; Guardian Capital LP

Miranda Hubbs; McLean Budden

Ari Levy; TD Asset Management

European portfolio managers tend to combine oil and gas in a broader context of energy stocks, signaling a slightly different take on the business. Even against this broader definition, 10 TopGuns emerged with a very strong lead over their peers.

The TopGun European Oil & Gas Investment Minds are:

Emmanuel Martin; Amundi Asset Management, France

Luis Amusategui; Cygnus Asset Management, Spain

Susana Penarrubia Fraguas; DWS Investment GmbH, Germany

Carine Salvy; Ecofin Ltd, United Kingdom

Daniel Lacalle; Ecofin Ltd, United Kingdom

Steven Ho; JP Morgan Asset Management, United Kingdom

Charles Whall; Newton Investment Management, United Kingdom

Karen Kharmandarian; Pictet Asset Management, Switzerland

Christopher Wheaton; RCM - Allianz Global Investors, United Kingdom

Alberto Vigil-Escalera; Santander Asset Management, Spain

When it comes to the Pacific Rim, Middle East and South America, there are several investors that reach TopGun status, but with no expertise predominantly focused on the oil and gas business, although they show as TopGun regional Investment Minds, as reported elsewhere. These outstanding TopGuns will be celebrated throughout the industry in the months ahead, deservedly so.

“The portfolio managers who achieved TopGun status in the oil and gas industry in the current climate have had to fight their way through the hyperactivity in the sector and investment returns that are truly hard to beat,” said Johann Rodrigues of Brendan Wood International. “For most portfolio managers, it’s a great sector to be in; the wind is at their back. This is a much tougher environment to distinguish yourself in. Yet clearly, the sell side is predicting that these TopGun portfolio managers will endure for the long-term.”