Hugh Spencer

As asset managers rethink what drives performance, the trading desk is no longer just executing orders- it's becoming a lever for firm-wide advantage. In this opening address, Hugh Spencer shares how Janus Henderson is repositioning trading at the centre of the business- aligning the desk with product innovation, distribution, and risk, while building a more integrated, multi-asset platform.

But this shift is not just structural- it's a fundamental reset of the trader's role. Hugh will explore how skillsets are evolving, why traders must actively upskill and engage with new technologies- including AI- and how firms can combine human expertise with emerging tools to unlock new levels of performance. He will also address the reality of change: the cultural friction, the organisational inertia, and the competitive risk for firms that fail to adapt.