Nothing stands still in the world of investments – and neither has Conning. The global manager of more than $200bn of assets has been making significant investments to support asset owners in three key areas.

First, the firm has been supporting new entrants to the London and Bermuda markets, advising on investment strategies and assumption sets for a broad range of insurance vehicles including collateralised reinsurance arrangements, sidecars, private equity-led acquisitions and legacy transaction pricing.

Second, Conning has been enhancing its methodologies for understanding and reporting the environmental, social and governance (ESG) attributes of assets. Insurers are facing more pressure from stakeholders and regulators to meet ESG requirements while not compromising on financial objectives. Conning is helping by integrating third-party and propriety metrics into asset management, and developing strategies and overlays for existing mandates. The firm's climate dashboards allow clients to report in line with TCFD recommendations.

Third, Conning has been adding a broader range of asset classes to help meet clients' income needs – including esoteric asset-backed securities, private placements and collateralised loan obligations – to expand options for clients to meet specific needs. Last year, Conning completed the acquisition of a majority interest in Pearlmark, a specialist US-based investment manager of commercial real estate debt and equity strategies, which gives clients direct access to investment opportunities in the real estate markets.

The judge panel described Conning as an "innovative asset manager which has clearly invested heavily in people, process and technology to drive a step change in performance".

The company attributes its success to its insurance industry focus, which means clients have access to the expertise and systems they need, whether they are start-ups or multi-nationals.