Charles Curtis

After reading English Literature at the then Manchester College between 1982-1985, Charles Curtis joined the graduate programme at SG Warburg , taking a position as a fund manager in its investment management arm, which was floated on the stock market as Mercury Asset Management. In 1991 he became Deutsche Asset Management’s youngest managing director, helping transform its UK investment business. After Deutsche sold its UK fund management arm to Aberdeen Asset Management in 2005, he founded CZ Capital, a successful independent investment firm focusing on low volatility, uncorrelated, market neutral equity strategies. Assets grew from $100m to around $1billion at peak, principally from institutional investors, endowments, and family offices.

First contact with HMC

My first contact with HMC was as an 18-year-old undergraduate when it was known as Manchester College and was independent, offering degrees in a limited number of subjects from both London and Oxford Universities. I re-established my relationship with the College in 2013 after meeting Ralph Waller, who was then the Principal. Ralph and Sir Eric Anderson, the former Visitor and Honorary Fellow, approached me to become a Regent of the College, which I was delighted to accept. What struck me at the time was what a wonderful job Ralph had achieved in developing the college and gaining its full Oxford status, without losing its friendly culture.

Regents' achievement of which I am most proud 

I am very proud of how the intellectual rigour of the College has grown alongside its physical development, the refurbishment of Holywell Street and the new Clocktower. The major task for the future is incorporating the buildings opposite the College, which were recently acquired and currently house the University's Department of International Development. 

A message for students

My message for current and future students is that you are or will be members of a unique, quirky, and wonderfully friendly community.