WS Montanaro Better World Fund
The Fund aims to achieve capital growth over any five-year period by investing globally in companies which make a positive impact on society or the environment.
The Fund will invest at least 60% of its assets in the shares of small and medium sized companies (i.e. companies with a market capitalisation below that of the largest constituent of the MSCI World SMID Index) in Developed Markets.
The Fund is domiciled in the UK.
Why the Better World Fund?
The Fund invests in companies helping to solve some of the world’s major problems.
- We invest in six impact themes: Environmental Protection; Low Carbon Economy; Healthcare; Innovative Technology; Nutrition; Well-being
- Our themes support the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Investors in Small & MidCap can make a difference
Impact reports
Our annual Impact Report provides detailed information on the impact and investment returns delivered by our Irish-domiciled Better World Fund.
Deep Dives
Our Sustainability Deep Dives.
Fund managers
Co-Fund Manager
Mark Rogers
Professional
Mark graduated with a degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Wales, Bangor in 1986. Since then he has spent his whole career in the asset management industry, the last 12 years managing buy side research teams.
His first 4 years was with Bankers Trust Asset Management as a UK portfolio manager, running funds on behalf of UK pension clients. Then Mark joined Nomura Asset Management in 1990 where he worked for 17 years, first as a European equities portfolio manager for US Pension clients and then as Head of Research where he built up a team of 14 in-house sector analysts in London and New York.
In 2007 Mark left to join Fidelity Worldwide Investments in London as Director of European Equity Research. In this role Mark helped to manage and coach the 45 strong buy side analyst team.
In March 2014 Mark joined Montanaro, and in 2018 he became co-Fund Manager of the Better World Fund. Mark is also a member of the Investment Committee.
Qualifications
- Banking and Finance degree, University of Wales, Bangor (1986)
Personal
Mark is a Life Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and he has always had an interest in gazing at maps and wondering what was out there. In his younger days he tried to stay true to his dreams. As a keen cyclist Mark has been on a number of adventures, including a lone ride across the Himalayas from Lhasa to Kathmandu. This was back when Tibet was closed to foreigners and the route was just an empty, barren dirt road.
Mark has also followed his interest in mountaineering over the years. He and his brother have been on numerous expeditions to climb the high peaks of Europe, the USA and Nepal. They reached the summit of Ama Dablam, at 22,493ft, and inclement weather forced Mark from the summit ridge of Cho Oyu, at 26,900ft.
Mark acknowledges that as one gets older, life has a habit of becoming more circumscribed. Today, Mark has two grown up daughters and his wife, Catherine, has two teenage children. Nowadays, his pleasures come from cooking comfort food for everyone and cycling at the weekend.
Mark has a large globe which is beside his bed and in the evenings you can still catch him sneaking a look to see what great adventures lie out there for the brave hearted.
Co-Fund Manager
Adam Montanaro
Professional
Adam graduated from Durham University with a 1st Class (Hons) BA in Combined Social Sciences, primarily studying Philosophy and Anthropology. He began his career at PwC where he was a Senior Associate in the Investment Management Tax team. During his time at PwC he qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACA), winning the Institute of Chartered Accounts of England and Wales (ICAEW)’s Railton prize for the highest score in Business Strategy worldwide and finishing Fourth place in South-East England at the Professional Stage.
In 2013 Adam joined Aberdeen Asset Management (now abrdn plc) in their Emerging Markets Equities team where he worked as an Analyst, Portfolio Manager and more recently as an Investment Director. Adam was part of the portfolio construction team for the firm’s flagship Emerging Markets ‘Long Term Quality’ equity products, co-manager of the abrdn Emerging Markets Income Equity Fund and lead manager of a billion-pound EM segregated mandate. Adam also successfully launched and ran a dedicated Israel Fund for the Japanese retail market.
Adam joined Montanaro in 2023 as an Analyst.
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) 1st Class in Combined Social Sciences (Philosophy, Anthropology)
- Chartered Accountant (ACA) and member of ICAEW
- Investment Management Certificate (IMC)
- Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Personal
A proud father of 3 daughters, Adam spends much of his spare time operating a combined taxi and butler service! Adam is a keen sports fan, though increasingly a better watcher than player. He’s a member of his local tennis club and an Associate Member of the MCC.
An avid traveller, Adam has a keen sense of adventure, be it running the bulls in Pamplona, high-altitude trekking through Tibet, skydiving in New Zealand or tasting the local delicacies in Pakistan. He continues to get his greatest adrenaline kick from the highs and lows of supporting Arsenal, who he has watched lose all around the UK and Europe!
Head of Sustainable Investments
Ed Heaven
Professional
Ed joined Montanaro Asset Management in 2014 and is Head of Sustainable Investment. He first joined the City in 2007 with a start-up consultancy, before moving into asset management as a Portfolio Manager at Newton Investment Management and then Standard Life.
Ed leads the ESG and impact investment approach at Montanaro and has developed sustainable investment strategies, including the award winning “Montanaro Better World Fund”. He was instrumental in Montanaro achieving B Corporation certification in 2018. He chairs Montanaro’s Sustainability Committee and sits on its Executive Committee.
Ed was elected to the Board of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) in September 2023. UKSIF comprises a diverse range of 300+ financial services firms with assets under management of £19 trillion, committed to building a leading sustainable finance industry in the UK. Ed also serves as an independent member of the Medical Research Foundation’s Investment Committee, a charity dedicated to advancing medical research, improving human health and changing people’s lives for the better.
He also contributes to the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) policy workstream. Previously, Ed Co-Chaired the B Corp Finance & Investment Working Group, collaborating with other financial services firms to promote best practices and initiatives in the sector, attending COP26.
Ed has completed the Sustainable Finance Course at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and holds the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing, and The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment Diploma. He graduated from Durham University with a 2:1 BA (Hons) degree in Theology.
Qualifications
- Durham University, Theology BA (Hons) 2:1
- CFA Institute, Certificate in ESG Investing
- The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment Diploma
- Sustainable Finance Course - Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge
Personal
Away from work, Ed is kept busy looking after his young family. An avid reader, Ed likes to relax by working his way through an ever-growing reading list. He is interested in the development of new technologies, particularly “AI” and in his spare time has completed Stanford Professor Andrew Ng’s course 'AI for Everyone'. When he can, Ed likes to travel, a highlight being a trip across the Middle East to Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Israel in 2005.
Awards and Ratings
AAA Rating
Elite Rating
Fund documents
Factsheets
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Additional Investor Information Document
Application Form
Prospectus
Our Companies
Coverall Renunciation and Transfer of Title
Historical Fund Changes
Contact our sales team
Professional
Harry joined Montanaro in 2018 after graduating from the University of Exeter with a degree in Geography in 2018.
He spent three months in Myanmar working for Aequitas Holdings as a Management Intern which consisted of on the ground research into new business ventures for Aequitas. Harry also interned at Velocity Trade where he gained experience of Sell side sales and trading.
Harry is part of the Business Development team at Montanaro covering Wealth Managers across the UK.
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) in Geography - University of Exeter (2018)
Personal
In his spare time Harry is an avid sportsman. He can be found regularly on the golf course, playing cricket for his local team in Kent, or watching Harlequins RFC at the stoop in Twickenham.
Professional
Dan graduated with a History degree from the University of Manchester in 2013. He soon moved to London and started his career in the investment industry working for Henderson Global Investors. After this, he joined Jupiter Asset Management to work in the sales team, covering IFA’s in the Midlands, South West and East Anglia.
Dan joined Montanaro in 2022 as an Investment Sales Manager and is responsible for clients within the Midlands and South West.
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) in History - University of Manchester (2013)
Personal
Dan grew up in Wolverhampton, so no surprise his childhood dream was to play in the old gold of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Instead, you will now find him watching the game or playing 5 a side football with friends when he can.
Dan enjoys spending time outdoors and occasionally signs up for fitness challenges, most of which were great excuses to travel. He has completed the Rome marathon, a standard distance triathlon in London and half-Ironman triathlon in The New Forest, and a long-distance trail race around Lake Como. With the full Ironman too much of an ask, these days he prefers the calmness of a golf course, although has a lot of work to do to bring his handicap down.
Professional
Christian graduated from the University of Grenoble in 1981, where he studied Politics & Law. His research on Scottish politics took him to Scotland where, in 1986, he joined Martin Currie Investment Management as an Investment Manager covering Europe and Asia. In 1988 he joined British Linen Bank, part of the Bank of Scotland Group, where he was in charge of European investments.
In 1990, Christian joined Edinburgh Fund Managers ("EFM") where he was responsible for managing the European Unit Trust and marketing in Canada and the US. After eight years at EFM, in 1998 Christian joined Kempen Capital Management (UK) where he was involved in the marketing and management of their SRI funds and also with marketing in Europe and Canada.
Christian is trilingual in French, English and Spanish.
Christian joined Montanaro in July 2006 and became Head of Client Relationship Management in 2011.
Christian has responsibility for Scotland, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland.
Qualifications
- Politics & Law degree, University of Grenoble (1981)
- Fluent in French, English and Spanish
Personal
As a fund manager, Christian sometimes took contrarian views. This may be why he left the South of France to move to cold and wet Scotland. Christian speaks French and Spanish and on moving to Scotland, even took (and passed!) an O-Grade in Gaelic.
He likes French and Italian wines and is currently learning Italian so he can visit the various producers during his holidays. For some years now, Christian has imported his favourite wines and champagne into the UK and he is often asked to present them at tasting sessions. His other great interests are Scottish history, literature, cinema and running (when the Scottish weather is not too bad). He also spends some time serving the French community in Scotland as an elected councillor.
He plans to go to the Gaelic college in Skye to improve his Gaelic. He loves the West coast of Scotland, one of the most beautiful parts of the world, when it does not rain and there are no midges!
Professional
Chris graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in Banking & Financial Management in 2013. Born and bred in Manchester, Chris quickly made the move to London to embark on a career in Asset Management, joining Neuberger Berman as Performance & Risk Analyst.
It didn’t take long for Chris to decide he wanted to work in distribution and in 2014 joined Goldman Sachs Asset Management to support both their wholesale and institutional sales teams within EMEA.
Keen to progress into a client facing role, Chris joined Columbia Threadneedle in 2015 as Business Development Manager, tasked with developing, growing and maintaining relationships with a panel of financial advisers, life co’s and key strategic partners across the U.K.
Chris joined Montanaro in 2018.
Qualifications
- BA (Hons) Banking & Financial Management, Sheffield Hallam University.
Personal
Away from work, Chris sits on the members committee at The Lansdowne Club in Mayfair and is constantly looking at ways to improve the experience for its members. Chris is an avid Manchester United fan (yes – one of the few actually from Manchester) and goes to watch the games as often as he can. Chris enjoys the odd game of 5-a-side but feels he is more attuned to playing golf these days. He is also a big horse racing fan with his favourite meet being the Ebor Festival at York.
Chris loves to travel but rarely plans ahead, choosing instead to book last-minute flights to random destinations. He would like to become fluent in French one day and spent the odd summer during university working at Disneyland Paris. Unfortunately we are yet to find a photo of him dressed as Mickey Mouse.
Professional
Henrik completed an MSc in finance and business administration after studying at the University of Linkoping in Sweden and in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
He started his professional career in 2000 at Merrill Lynch where he worked in equity research covering software and IT services companies. In 2001 he joined Lehman Brothers, where he spent 3 years as an Analyst, working on the European banks team.
As the lead Analyst on the Nordic banks he was writing company, sector and thematic reports. After that he spent 4 years at KBW and 3 years at Morgan Stanley, where he besides being the lead Analyst on Nordic banks also covered Emerging Market banks (Turkey and Russia) and wrote European banks strategy reports.
During his time as a bank Analyst he was voted the number one ranked Nordic banks Analyst in Europe. At Morgan Stanley the team also reached the number one position in Europe.
Henrik has responsibility for the Nordic region.
Qualifications
- M.Sc in Finance and Business Administration, University of Linkoping in Sweden and in St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Bilingual in Swedish and English
Personal
After growing up on the West coast of Sweden and living in Switzerland for a year and a half his biggest interests are boating and skiing. These days that boils down to a couple of weeks skiing per year and a little bit of boating in the summer. There is still that dream of spending a season in the Alps. Besides sports Henrik likes to travel. The perfect dream holiday would be to combine these two interest and go skiing in Alaska.
Professional
Ed joined Montanaro Asset Management in 2014 and is Head of Sustainable Investment. He first joined the City in 2007 with a start-up consultancy, before moving into asset management as a Portfolio Manager at Newton Investment Management and then Standard Life.
Ed leads the ESG and impact investment approach at Montanaro and has developed sustainable investment strategies, including the award winning “Montanaro Better World Fund”. He was instrumental in Montanaro achieving B Corporation certification in 2018. He chairs Montanaro’s Sustainability Committee and sits on its Executive Committee.
Ed was elected to the Board of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) in September 2023. UKSIF comprises a diverse range of 300+ financial services firms with assets under management of £19 trillion, committed to building a leading sustainable finance industry in the UK. Ed also serves as an independent member of the Medical Research Foundation’s Investment Committee, a charity dedicated to advancing medical research, improving human health and changing people’s lives for the better.
He also contributes to the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) policy workstream. Previously, Ed Co-Chaired the B Corp Finance & Investment Working Group, collaborating with other financial services firms to promote best practices and initiatives in the sector, attending COP26.
Ed has completed the Sustainable Finance Course at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and holds the CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing, and The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment Diploma. He graduated from Durham University with a 2:1 BA (Hons) degree in Theology.
Qualifications
- Durham University, Theology BA (Hons) 2:1
- CFA Institute, Certificate in ESG Investing
- The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment Diploma
- Sustainable Finance Course - Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge
Personal
Away from work, Ed is kept busy looking after his young family. An avid reader, Ed likes to relax by working his way through an ever-growing reading list. He is interested in the development of new technologies, particularly “AI” and in his spare time has completed Stanford Professor Andrew Ng’s course 'AI for Everyone'. When he can, Ed likes to travel, a highlight being a trip across the Middle East to Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Israel in 2005.