In conversation with Alex Agar, an Associate in the Asset Management team

What attracted you to Ancala?

I had been working at a large investment institution with thousands of employees and was looking to work for a smaller, entrepreneurially-minded fund manager that was growing quickly.

Ancala was in the process of raising its third flagship fund at the time and I was really interested by its diverse portfolio and unique approach to working with its portfolio companies to add value.

As soon as I met the Ancala team members in the interview process, I knew that it was right for me and was excited by all the opportunities to learn.

What’s been your experience since joining?

The work is really intellectually challenging, and I love that. It requires a proactive mindset, constantly questioning and probing deeper into each opportunity to get to the right result. Being surrounded by experienced, intelligent and creative people really brings out the best in me and has helped develop my abilities.

One of the most fulfilling parts of my role is helping businesses to identify and then deliver their value creation plans. Collaborating with the management team at Liverpool Airport to revamp its retail and leisure offering has been really rewarding and added material value to the business. These are tangible transformations that Ancala is enabling every day through our hands-on approach to asset management.

What part of your role do you enjoy the most?

The variety! I work with management teams on their business plans, go to board meetings, conduct valuations, refinancings, and support the broader portfolio, not just my key assets. I also get involved with investor relations. There’s never a dull day at Ancala.

I also love seeing the assets in motion. I’m a bit of a plane nerd so going to Liverpool and seeing everything in action is a great day out!

What do you like about infrastructure as an asset class?

When I was growing up, I always had a fascination with the built environment and transport in particular. My dad and I used to go to Dublin airport at the weekends to watch all of the activity.

However, I was not aware of infrastructure investment as a career until well after university. I’m really glad I’ve been able to translate an early passion of mine into my professional career.

What challenges have you faced at Ancala and how have you overcome them?

Ancala trusts all of its team members to deliver. This is really empowering, particularly at a junior level. The level of accountability has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone and driven me to improve.

Working at a smaller firm, you really need to understand the details behind your recommendations and then believe in your own ability to deliver on them. Ancala has supported me through this by surrounding me with the right people where I’m allowed to make mistakes, learn from them and ultimately achieve the right outcome. When you complete a project here, you feel like you really deserve the result.

What’s next for you?

My plan is to continue to learn and get exposure to new assets. I’m getting involved with new assets at the moment and am looking forward to really getting to understand the assets and the management teams. I want to continue to challenge myself in terms of what I can bring to Ancala and its portfolio companies.

On a personal note, I’m also getting married in June and am gearing up for my annual cycling charity fundraiser. This year I’m taking on the 400km challenge of cycling from London to Amsterdam. Wish me luck!