Key takeaways from Carne’s Dublin breakfast seminar 

Carne recently welcomed clients and industry partners to a breakfast seminar held at Dublin’s iconic College Green Hotel, featuring a business update on the firm’s strategy and growth ambitions, alongside a discussion on the trends shaping the future of asset management. 

CEO John Donohoe set the scene with a business update on Carne’s strategic direction and growth trajectory, reflecting on a period of significant momentum across the business marked by key milestones including the recent announcement of Permira as a significant minority investor, subject to regulatory approval and the appointment of John Parkhouse as President. 

The conversation continued with a fireside Q&A between Patrick O’Brien and John Parkhouse.  Drawing on more than three decades of experience in asset management, John highlighted the qualities that set Carne apart, from its culture of innovation and strong client focus to the people at the heart of the business. 

He also shared his vision for Carne’s next chapter, building on the strong foundations already in place and helping scale the business while remaining firmly focused on clients and their evolving needs. 

The discussion then turned to the broader industry landscape, with Des Fullam, Yvonne Connolly, Daniel Osborne, Faisal Ayub, Paul Whelan and Siobhan Noble sharing insights on key developments across ETFs, private markets, KYA, regulatory change and AI.  

Together, they painted a picture of an industry continuing to innovate and grow, while adapting to the changing needs of investors, regulators and the broader market. 

Five themes shaping the future of asset management 

While short-term volatility and geopolitical uncertainty remain part of the backdrop, the discussion reflected a clear sense of optimism about the future. Strong fundamentals, changing investor needs and continued innovation are creating meaningful opportunities for growth across the industry. 

1. Competitiveness through collaboration 

Looking beyond individual jurisdictions, collaboration between Ireland and Luxembourg will be key to maintaining the competitiveness of Europe’s UCITS and AIFMD ecosystem, as regulatory discussions continue to evolve. 

2. ETF growth shows no signs of slowing 

Record inflows, continued product innovation and the rise of active ETFs are driving the next phase of ETF growth. At the same time, changing investor behaviours, evolving distribution models and a generational transfer of wealth are creating significant new opportunities for asset managers. 

3. A long runway for private markets 

Private markets continue to benefit from powerful structural tailwinds, as investors increase allocations, companies stay private for longer and demand grows for private credit and AI-driven infrastructure financing. With Ireland gaining momentum as a private markets domicile, the discussion pointed to significant opportunities still ahead. 

4. The rise of Know Your Asset (KYA) 

As private markets grow in scale and complexity, knowing the asset is becoming just as important as knowing the investor. By combining KYC and KYA, firms can strengthen governance, improve transparency and gain deeper visibility into the ownership structures, relationships and risks that sit behind increasingly complex investments. 

 5. AI shifts from experimentation to transformation 

AI is moving beyond experimentation to become a strategic driver of business transformation. The discussion highlighted that real value will come from strong leadership, robust data foundations and a willingness to rethink how work gets done, moving beyond simply digitising existing processes to deliver better outcomes for clients. 

Looking ahead 

While geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility will remain part of the backdrop, the discussions reflected a clear sense of confidence in the future. 

From the continued growth of ETFs and private markets to AI’s emergence as a strategic driver of business transformation, the industry continues to evolve in exciting ways. For firms that can adapt, innovate and anticipate investors’ changing needs, the opportunities ahead remain significant. 

At Carne, our focus remains on helping clients do exactly that. If you’d like to discuss what these developments mean for your business, please reach out here.