John Ions: The perception of Liontrust was bigger than the reality, but now we are beginning to fulfil that

Diversification through acquisition

CEO of Liontrust AM John Ions speaks to Natalie Kenway about acquisitions and diversifying the business, the shifting asset management landscape and improving the industry's reputation.

In the seven years since John Ions took over as CEO of FTSE-listed Liontrust Asset Management, the business has diversified its fund range with acquisitions and new launches, moved from net outflows to net inflows for each consecutive year, while AUM has reached £10.7bn (as at 31 December). But Ions said this growth is largely down to making "fewer decisions" and argues that this approach will be key for asset managers in the coming few years. "The fewer decisions you have made, the better off you have been. At least half my job has been deciding what not to do," he says.  "I think...