In the section Backstage, interesting personalities from the financial sector and beyond provide insights into their personal preferences every Wednesday.

What do you do first in the morning?

My kids and I get up early, so the first thing I do each morning is kiss them and wish them a good day at school. My first task at work is to read the overnight emails and start implementing the plan that I jotted down the previous evening for the day ahead. I never plan my day in the morning. I plan it the previous evening. That approach works better for me.

What is the best part about your job?

I have the privilege of working with some very experienced and capable people at Liontrust. Every day is different in a smaller firm, so I grow a bit every day by engaging with our internal team of experts. I also enjoy following the financial markets and meeting with clients, who always enrich my day.

A moment that changed your life?

The day I decided to leave Barcelona, my hometown, to live in London and work in the financial services industry, despite having an engineering background. This literally opened up a world of opportunities for me and certainly changed the course of my life forever.

What cars do you own? Which is your favorite?

We recently bought a BYD Sealion, which is a family, electrical SUV car. We traded our 14-year old BMW SUV (it was high time!). The BYD is great value for money, albeit a risky option as this brand is not yet a well-established firm in Switzerland. In addition, we own a smaller Mercedes.

What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?

Work hard, be positive and more confident. Plus read more and start investing for the future. Everything in life will pan out, so do not be so risk averse.

What are you particularly proud of?

Personally, my children make me immensely proud. Professionally, in my role as Liontrust’s Head of Switzerland, I have made significant progress in less than a year, engaging new clients and growing the business. I am very proud of this and I am determined to grow the business further to help support Liontrust’s aim of becoming one of the top asset management firms in Switzerland.

What do you do when you have doubts?

I try to get as much information as possible on whatever challenge I am facing. I weigh the pros and cons of each possible decision. I evaluate the worst-case scenario and come up with a mitigation strategy. I finally make the best decision I can with the available data I have in my possession.

What is your favorite wine?

Wine is an acquired taste: nobody likes wine as a child. People usually tend to start trying and drinking wine from their own country. I am Swiss, originally from Catalonia, so Catalan red wines feature prominently in my wine collection. I also enjoy drinking Merlot wine from Ticino with a medium-rare steak.

What projects are you currently working on?

My main professional project is to grow Liontrust’s business in Switzerland. Things have got off to a great start, and we are attracting new clients to invest in our funds within my first year.

What do you admire in other people?

Kindness, intelligence, energy, resilience, and, above all, calmness in the face of adversity.

What would be the biggest surprise for someone who had to take over your job for a day?

The fierce competition from other asset managers to gain “air time” with the large private banks or pension funds.  One must have built a strong reputation in the industry to achieve those meetings on a regular basis.

What is your personal drive?

Self-improvement is a key feature in my everyday life and gives me satisfaction. Helping a client make a good investment makes me very happy. Clients receive dozens of calls every day, so getting an unsolicited call from a client because they trust me, makes my day.

What are you afraid of?

When I am afraid of something I react by facing the issue. Some aspects of AI may be scary to some people. I have reacted by taking a reputed course in AI at MIT and by using AI every day, even beyond what I need. I embrace AI because, deep down, perhaps I fear it a bit.

Your favorite watch brand?

I don’t usually wear a watch. I try to dress well in general, but watches have never been my thing. I prefer wearing a nice made-to-measure shirt.

Is there an unfulfilled dream you would still like to realize?

My childhood dream was to be a football star, but that did not happen in the end. I guess at my age, it will be a bit difficult to realise it! I would also love to have Rory McIlroy’s golf swing but I guess it is probably too late for that as well. I must accept that some dreams will never be fulfilled and that is also part of having a happy life.

Your best investment?

On a personal basis, my two children, without a doubt. One must give a lot but the rewards are immense because they give you happiness. And there is nothing better than happiness in life.

On a financial level, property investing has been a substantial source of our wealth. My wife and I started early in this area, and we can expect that property will fund a substantial part of our retirement years. Finally, education is a must for most of us and it never ends in this ever-evolving world we live in. I therefore believe that investing in education is key.

Oscar Andreu has been Managing Director and Head of Distribution Switzerland at Liontrust Asset Management since March 2025 and is responsible for business strategy in Switzerland. Prior to this, he worked at HSBC Asset Management for almost nine years. Other positions include BlackRock, Fidelity, and UBS. His focus is on traditional investments, private markets, and wealth management. He is a CFA charterholder, INSEAD MBA graduate, and holds degrees in ESG and AI.