What makes us different?
We accept uncertainty, look through the incessant short-term noise in financial markets and, above all, take a long-term, patient approach to investing clients' capital.
Driven, without distractions
Investment management should be a long-term business. We base our portfolios on research and insights built up over time. And when we invest clients’ capital, we intend to hold the assets for years longer than is usual in our industry.
So, we believe our company’s status as an independent private partnership plays to our clients’ advantage. We don’t have outside shareholders or external financial obligations. That means we aren’t preoccupied with short-term profits or the need to pay dividends. This gives us freedom to invest in opportunities that might not work out, but those that do may take years rather than quarters to fulfil their potential, where other firms do not have the same alignment. Not every investment takes years to play out, but being able to invest in such opportunities is a critical element of how we differentiate ourselves.
Curious, patient, brave
What sets Baillie Gifford apart from other asset managers? Three words define us: curious, patient and brave. Find out why they matter to our clients by meeting three of our investment managers.
Global by nature
Our organisational structure gives us stability, helping us recruit and retain some of the finest investment minds. Being based in Edinburgh, Scotland, since 1908 has shaped our unique culture. But we do not set our ambitions through that lens. We want to be among the world’s leading growth investors, and to do this, we need to access talent where it exists. So in recent years, we have started to selectively add investors based in China and the US. They’re well placed to build local relationships and find new ideas while retaining the huge benefits of flexibility and collaboration that come with the bulk of the team being together in Edinburgh.
Imagine you must choose 20 stocks to lock away in a coffee can for 20 years. Which would you pick to build your wealth? This powerful exercise can help you make better long-term decisions today.
An independent partnership
Baillie Gifford has 58 partners, as of 30 September 2024. On average, they have been with us for over 20 years. Three managing partners share overall leadership. They’re currently:
Malcolm MacColl
Malcolm has overall oversight of our investment departments. He joined the company in 1999 and became managing partner in 2021. He is also an investment manager in the Global Alpha Team.
Andrew Telfer
Andrew is chief executive and is responsible for the non-investment operations of the firm. He joined Baillie Gifford in 1992 and became managing partner in 2012. Before moving into a client-facing role, he was an investor in the firm’s Emerging Markets Equity Team.
Amy Atack
Amy has authority over the resourcing and development of our equity teams and additionally oversees human resources. She joined the firm in 2004, becoming chief of staff for equities in 2021 and a managing partner in 2024. Previous to this, Amy worked first in our Emerging Markets Equity Team and then the Clients Department.
What does it mean to be an Actual investor?
For more than a century, Baillie Gifford has invested in growth opportunities across the globe. We strive to place our clients capital in the most competitive, innovative and efficient companies, mindful that they operate in ever-changing conditions.
Careers
Explore the possibilities of your career and interests when you join us.
Diversity and inclusion
Fairness. Equality. Openness. Three principles that form the backbone of Baillie Gifford.