Eigil Ingebretsen
Head of Investment Control and Analytics at Storebrand ASA
As Head of Investment Control and Analytics at Storebrand Asset Management, Eigil Ingebretsen has played a pivotal role in the organisation's optimisation of process integrations and capabilities.
His tenure at Storebrand began in 2014, marking a significant milestone in his 15-year career in the financial industry.
Optimising for international ambition
For Eigil, the decision to join Storebrand was influenced by the company's robust reputation in Norway.
“Storebrand has a strong brand and a strong name in Norway... it's a quite well-known institution with a history going back to the 1700s,” he explains.
While the firm's stability and heritage initially attracted him, it was Storebrand's ambitious outlook that proved most compelling.
“I knew that Storebrand was quite large in a local sense in the asset management industry, but I was a bit surprised that it was ambitious outside of our home markets.”
Today, Storebrand manages approximately €115bn (US$157bn) across a wide range of products, including traditional offerings such as equity and fixed income funds, alongside a strong alternative investment portfolio encompassing private equity, real estate, private debt and infrastructure.
The company has seen remarkable growth, with assets under management nearly tripling from NOK500bn to approximately NOK1,300bn (US$117bn).
Navigating technical evolution and growth
In his current role, Eigil particularly values the dynamic nature of the work.
“I definitely enjoy the high pace nature of the processes and business that we have,” he notes, though he acknowledges this can also present challenges, as “you constantly need to adapt, constantly need to optimise processes, systems”.
During his tenure, Eigil has been instrumental in establishing Storebrand's multi-boutique structure and implementing significant technological improvements.
This has included moving to cloud infrastructure and maintaining a clear focus on portfolio management systems.
“We made a wise decision not knowing what kind of requirements we would see related to ESG, data models, technology and so on at the later point in time,” he reflects on the company's simplified approach to system architecture.
Looking toward the future, Eigil emphasises the importance of adapting to changing talent requirements in the industry.
“Whenever we approach new talents and have a new process for recruiting new analysts to our team, we also need to consider what kind of technical capabilities they have,” he explains.
While understanding products, markets and instruments remains crucial, technical proficiency has become equally important.
“Now it's more about the tools and technology as well... even though we work in the business side and we have an IT department or digital department that serves us, we constantly need to make sure that we have a keen understanding and competence in basic coding to solve the issues.”
Under Eigil's guidance, Storebrand maintains ambitious growth plans, particularly focusing on expansion beyond its home markets.
This involves approaching clients differently, ensuring appropriate product offerings and seeking opportunities for non-organic growth through strategic acquisitions.
The firm's commitment to sustainability, which dates back to 1995, remains central to its strategy, with Eigil noting that this focus is “deeply ingrained in our business”.
Throughout this growth trajectory, Eigil remains focused on maintaining efficient processes and competitive products while delivering enhanced value to clients in an increasingly cost-conscious environment.
His role continues to evolve as Storebrand expands its reach, embracing new technologies and maintaining its position as a forward-thinking Nordic asset manager.
To read the full story in the magazine click HERE
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